The demand for durable and sustainable eco-friendly materials in recent times has caused many researchers to consider the use of plant fibers in composite development. In this research, the suitability of treated pawpaw fiber as a substitute for glass fiber was considered. The pawpaw fiber was extracted from the plant stem by dew retting and treated before been incorporated into the epoxy matrix. Two distinct fiber structures in linear and network forms were identified, separated, and used for the development of the composites. The composites were produced by incorporating a fixed amount of pawpaw fiber with a varied amount of glass fiber within 3–15 wt% in epoxy-based polymer matrix after which mechanical and biodegradation tests were carried out on the developed samples. Fractured surface morphology was also observed using a scanning electron microscope. The results revealed that the fiber structures influence the properties of the material. While mechanical properties were mostly enhanced by treated linear structure pawpaw fiber, biodegradation was highly promoted by treated network structure pawpaw fiber. Tensile (except for strain), hardness, and flexural properties were enhanced by the linear-structured treated pawpaw fiber, while biodegradability, impact, and tensile strain were improved by the network-structured treated pawpaw fiber compared to the control sample.

近年来，对耐用和可持续的环保材料的需求已导致许多研究人员考虑在复合材料开发中使用植物纤维。在这项研究中，考虑了用处理过的木瓜纤维替代玻璃纤维的适用性。通过露湿从植物茎中提取木瓜纤维，并在掺入环氧基质之前对其进行处理。鉴定，分离并分离了线性和网络形式的两种截然不同的纤维结构，并将其用于复合材料的开发。通过将固定量的木瓜纤维与3-15％（重量）以内的各种玻璃纤维掺入环氧聚合物基体中来生产复合材料，然后对开发的样品进行机械和生物降解测试。使用扫描电子显微镜也观察到断裂的表面形态。结果表明，纤维结构影响了材料的性能。虽然处理后的线性结构木瓜纤维主要提高了机械性能，但处理后的网络结构木瓜纤维却大大促进了生物降解。与对照样品相比，通过线性结构处理的木瓜纤维可以提高拉伸强度（应变除外），硬度和弯曲性能，而通过网络结构处理的木瓜纤维可以改善生物降解性，冲击力和拉伸应变。处理过的网络结构木瓜纤维可促进生物降解。与对照样品相比，通过线性结构处理的木瓜纤维可提高拉伸强度（应变除外），硬度和弯曲性能，而通过网络结构处理的木瓜纤维可改善生物降解性，冲击力和拉伸应变。处理过的网络结构木瓜纤维可促进生物降解。与对照样品相比，通过线性结构处理的木瓜纤维可以提高拉伸强度（应变除外），硬度和弯曲性能，而通过网络结构处理的木瓜纤维可以改善生物降解性，冲击力和拉伸应变。