Study of dielectric properties of luffa–polylactide quadratic splint composites: The effect of cyclic absorption and desorption of water

This study reports on the effects of cyclic hot and cold water absorption on the dielectric properties of luffa–polylactide composites and their potential application as a quadratic mallet finger splint. The study was conducted for dry samples varying in fiber volume percentage from 0% to 20% with increments of 5%. The 15 vol% luffa–polylactide composites were subjected to the cyclic hot and cold water absorption. The changes in the dielectric constant, dissipation factor, and loss factor were measured in the 100 Hz to 1 MHz range. It was found that the higher the number of water cycles, lower the dielectric constant, dissipation factor, and loss factor. Cyclic hot water absorption showed a more significant effect on the dielectric properties than the cyclic cold water absorption. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:388–394, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers