Novel low-cost jute-polyester composites. III. Weathering and thermal behavior

Abstract

Jute–polyester composites were fabricated with untreated (control) and bleached slivers with 60% loading of fiber by weight and were designated as JPH(C) and JPH(B), respectively. Both types of composite specimens were subjected to water absorption and outdoor weathering tests to assess their relative performance under environmental conditions. While both composites showed low water absorption, JPH(B) showed lesser water absorption (8.48%) than did JPH(C) (12.25%). The mechanical properties like tensile and flexural strengths were measured for both the weathered and unweathered specimens and compared. The tensile strength of JPH(C) and JPH(B) decreased while the tensile modulus increased after weathering. The flexural strength, moduli, and ILSS of the weathered specimens were less than those of the unweathered ones. The nature of the fiber–matrix adhesion could be established from these results. The cause of every observation is explained. Thermal analyses (TG/DTG and DSC) of the composite specimens were also done. The overall thermal stability of JPH(C) was found to be better than that of JPH(B). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1671–1679, 2000