Abstract
Composites based on jute fabrics and polypropylene was fabricated by heat-press molding technique. The mechanical properties of the composites such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength were measured in dependence of fiber contents. In order to improve fiber-matrix interaction, jute fabrics were treated with aqueous solutions of K2Cr2O7 (0.005-0.05% w/v). Composite prepared with 0.02% K2Cr2O7 treated jute fabrics showed the highest values of the mechanical properties. Thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) data of PP, jute fabrics and composites showed that thermal degradation temperatures of composites shifted to higher temperature regions compared to PP or jute fabrics. Treatment of jute fabrics improved the thermal stability of the composite considerably. Scanning electron microscopic images of tensile fractured sides of untreated and treated composites illustrated that better fiber-matrix interfacial interaction occurred in treated composite. The relative tendency of water absorption of both untreated and treated composites was also explored.
Highlights
Environment-friendly and cost effective composites have recently been received considerable attention among the scientists
The mechanical and thermal behavior of jute fabric/PP composites was studied with special reference to fiber content and fiber treatment
Treatment of jute fiber in polypropylene matrix brought an important change in the properties of the composites
Summary
Environment-friendly and cost effective composites have recently been received considerable attention among the scientists. The use of man-made fibers (such as, glass, carbon) as reinforcements in composites is critically considered due to environmental concern though they have possessed excellent mechanical and thermal properties, and durability. These properties make difficult to carry out suitable disposal processing. Natural fibers have some advantages over man-made fibers in that they are cheap, highly available and renewable, with low density and high specific properties as well as they are biodegradable and less abrasive [1] Natural fibers such as jute, ramie, hemp, sisal, bamboo, banana, oil palm fibers and so on are used as reinforcements in polymer matrix composites. Joseph and co-workers [5,6] observed that permanganate treated sisal fiber reinforced low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites showed an enhancement in tensile
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