Characterization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-treated jute surface cured by UV radiation

Abstract

Jute fabric (hessian cloth) was modified with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) using ultraviolet (UV) radiation. HEMA solutions of different concentrations in methanol along with 1 wt% photoinitiator (Irgacure-184) were prepared. The concentration of HEMA and radiation dose were optimized with respect to mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation-at-break. The highest mechanical properties of grafted fiber such as tensile strength (80%), elongation-atbreak (93%) and grafting (11%) were produced by 3 wt% HEMA in methanol at the 5th pass of UV radiation. Modified and virgin jute fiber surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and it was found that HEMA either deposited onto the fiber surface or reacted with cellulose backbone of jute fiber through graft co-polymerization reaction. The surface morphology and topography of the jute fabric were investigated by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). Thermal stability of both treated and untreated samples was characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and the treated jute sample showed higher thermal stability. Water uptake and degradation properties due to simulated weathering were also measured. The jute fabric treated with 3 wt% HEMA under UV radiation showed the best performance.