Improvement of physico-mechanical and thermal properties of jute PP composites by using reactive dye and chemicals

Abstract

Surface modification of jute fabrics by various chemicals in the presence and absence of reactive dye is made in view of their use as reinforcing agents in composites based on propylene (PP) matrix. Fixative as well as conventional NaOH, NaCl, and Na2CO3 were used as chemicals for the modification of jute fabrics. The effects of treated jute fabrics on mechanical properties, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), thermal behavior (TG/DTA), and water absorption properties of their resulting composites were evaluated. The composites made from jute fabrics treated with the mixture of fixative plus NaOH dyed with reactive dye in presence of salt and soda ash had the highest tensile property, which was 108% higher than the composites of untreated fabrics and 73% higher than the composites of NaOH treated jute fabrics. Also, water absorption test revealed that this composite had 49% less water uptake than that of composites made from untreated jute fabrics. Again, composites reinforced with pretreated jute fabrics with the mixture of fixative plus NaOH dyed with reactive dye only confirms the best thermal stability among all other composites of treated fabrics including the untreated fabrics.