Abstract
The versatile bast fiber jute has environmental benefits compared to glass fibers. However, for jute to be used in a composite, the fiber properties need to be altered. This study aims to improve the mechanical properties of jute yarn to make it more suitable for technical applications as a composite. To alter its mechanical properties, jute yarn was immersed in water during microwave treatment. The time and power of the microwave settings differed between runs. Two states of the yarn were tested: fastened and un-fastened. Tensile testing was used at the yarn and fiber level, followed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and microscopy. The treatment result demonstrated the ability to increase the elongation of the jute yarn by 70%. The tenacity was also increased by 34% in the fastened state and 20% in the un-fastened state. FTIR showed that no change in the molecular structure occurred. The treatments resulted in a change of yarn thickness depending on the state of the yarn. The results indicate that microwave treatment can be used to make jute more suitable for technical applications depending on the microwave treatment parameters.
Highlights
Mechanical Properties of Jute Yarn.Natural fibers are competitive with glass fibers as reinforcement in composites
There are two main reasons for the competitiveness of natural fibers: one is that natural fibers are superior to glass fibers from an environmental sustainability perspective, and the other reason is the cheap price of natural fibers
We aim to study the effect of microwave treatment without chemicals on the mechanical properties of jute yarn
Summary
Natural fibers are competitive with glass fibers as reinforcement in composites. There are two main reasons for the competitiveness of natural fibers: one is that natural fibers are superior to glass fibers from an environmental sustainability perspective, and the other reason is the cheap price of natural fibers. The properties of the reinforcement in a composite should complement the properties of the matrix phase. Composites using glass fibers as reinforcement require high stiffness. Natural fibers are not as stiff but can still be stiff enough depending on the application as the application determines what properties are desired. The purpose of a composite is to utilize the different properties of the different phases to fabricate a material with enhanced properties, often tailored for a specific purpose
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