Jute Fabric Reinforced Polypropylene Composites Research Articles

Characterization of physical and mechanical properties of recycled jute fabric reinforced polypropylene composites

AbstractThis research designed to contribute to reduce the environmental impacts through the preparation of composites with recyclable materials to be used in different applications. To this end, composites have been developed based on jute recovered from packaging bags and polypropylene (PP) reclaimed from scraps obtained from the manufacture of PP yarns. The developed composites were then characterized. First of all, the optimum mass fraction was determined in order to achieve good mechanical performance. Several mass fractions (30%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) were experimented to find that the best characteristics were those of the biocomposite with 40% reinforcement (σ = 39.07 MPa, E = 4.60 GPa). With this ratio, jute–PP biocomposites were further developed with different jute architectures (Satin, Serge 2 × 2, Taffeta). A structural study of the different jute fabric wastes was carried out to confirm whether they are suitable for use with a thermoplastic matrix (i.e., at a processing temperature of ≥200°C). Tensile and bending tests were carried out on these composites to find out the effect of the weave structure of the reinforcement.

Effect of Weave Structure and Yarn Density on Mechanical Attributes of Jute Fabric Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

This paper represents a comparative study of the different weave structures of jute woven fabric reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. The weave structures were selected as plain (1/1), twill (2/1), twill (3/1) and basket (2/2). Composites (40% fiber by wt.) were prepared by using compression molding technique. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS) and impact strength (IS) of the composites were evaluated and compared. It was found that basket weave/PP based composite showed the highest mechanical properties. The optimum value of TS, BS, TM, BM and IS of the composite were found to be 49.7 MPa, 92.5 MPa, 867 MPa, 5.6 GPa and 29.8 KJ/m2.To find out the effect of yarn density on mechanical properties of the composites, 2/1 twill structure was selected and found significant improvement in the mechanical properties with the increase of Ends/Inch (EPI) and Picks/Inch (PPI) in the fabric. Water uptake and degradation behavior in aqueous medium of the composites was also observed.

Irradiated Jute Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Mercerization and SEM Analysis

Jute fibres (Corchorus olitorious L.), an environmentally and ecologically friendly product, were chemically modified and treated as surface treatment which was carried out by mercerizing jute fabrics with aqueous solutions of NaOH (5,10 and 20%) at different soaking times (30, 60 and 90 minutes) and temperatures (0, 25 and 50°C). These mercerized jute fabric reinforced polypropylene composites were fabricated by composition molding technique and equated with virgin jute fabric reinforced polypropylene composites, fabricated by same technique. The above composite samples ware compared by evaluating the mechanical parameters such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus. The effect of mercerization on weight and dimension of jute fabrics was studied. Mechanical properties of mercerized jute-PP composites ware measured and found highest at 20% NaOH at 0°C for 60 min soaking time. Alkali treatment helped in the development of hydrophobicity and reduction in volume fraction of the porosity. This may be due to the better fibre matrix interface adhesion caused due to the fibre surface treatment by alkali. The optimized formulation was irradiated by γ radiation at different dosage (100, 150, 200, 250 & 500 Krad). Among them 250 Krad showed highest mechanical properties

Mechanical, thermal and degradation characteristics of jute fabric-reinforced polypropylene composites: Effect of potassium dichromate as oxidizing agent

In this study, potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was used to investigate the oxidizing effect on the properties of the compression molded jute fabrics-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. Jute fabrics were treated with K2Cr2O7 in oxalic acid and sulphuric acid media. Solutions of oxalic acid and sulphuric acid were prepared in water as 1.0–10.0 % w/v and 0.1–2.0 % v/v respectively, where percentage of K2Cr2O7 was maintained at 0.02 % w/v. Among the treatments, 5.0 % oxalic acid treated jute-PP composite showed better mechanical performance over the other combinations and also than that of the untreated sample. The treatment of jute fabrics improved the thermal stability of the composites by shifting the thermal degradation temperatures of the composites to higher temperature regions compared to PP or jute fabrics. Treated jute composites were found less degradable in soil, water and simulated weathering conditions as well as less water sensible compared to the untreated composite sample.

A study on mechanical, thermal and environmental degradation characteristics of N,N-dimethylaniline treated jute fabric-reinforced polypropylene composites

The mechanical and thermal behavior of compression molded jute/polypropylene (PP) composites were studied by evaluating tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), tensile modulus (TM), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS), thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). A chemical modification was made to jute fabrics using N,N-Dimethylaniline (DMA) in order to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fabrics and matrix. It was found that jute fabrics on treatment with N,N-Dimethylaniline (DMA) significantly improved the mechanical properties of the composites. Thermal analytical data of PP, both treated and untreated jute fabrics as well as composites revealed that DMA treatment increased the thermal stability of the fabrics and composite. DMA treatment also reduced the hydrophilic nature of the composite. DMA treated jute composite was found less degradable than control composite under water, soil and simulated weathering conditions.

Effect of mercerization on mechanical, thermal and degradation characteristics of jute fabric-reinforced polypropylene composites

Jute fabric reinforced polypropylene composites were fabricated by compression molding technique. Fiber content in the composites was optimized at 45 % by weight of fiber by evaluating the mechanical parameters such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus. Surface treatment of jute fabrics was carried out by mercerizing jute fabrics with aqueous solutions of NaOH (5, 10 and 20 %) at different soaking times (30, 60 and 90 mins) and temperatures (0, 30 and 70 °C). The effect of mercerization on weight and dimension of jute fabrics was studied. Mechanical properties of mercerized jute-PP composites were measured and found highest at 20 % NaOH at 0 °C for 60 min soaking time. Thermal analytical data from thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis showed that mercerized jute-PP composite achieved higher thermal stability compared to PP, jute fabrics and control composite. Degradation characteristics of the composites were studied in soil, water and simulated weathering conditions. Water uptake of the composites was also investigated.

The response of natural fibre composites to ballistic impact by fragment simulating projectiles

While plenty of work has been published on ballistic properties of high performance fibres such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and aramid, and their composites, literature on the ballistic impact potential of natural fibre composites is almost non-existent. In this paper, the ballistic properties of flax, hemp and jute fabric reinforced polypropylene composites processed by hot compression moulding are investigated. The composites’ ballistic limit ( V 50) was determined by subjecting the material to ballistic impact loading by fragment simulating projectiles (FSPs) using a block manometric cannon interchangeable (BMCI) gun. The composites’ ballistic effect was further examined by investigating the ballistic limit of composite-steel hybrid systems prepared by gluing thin mild steel plates on the face and rear of the natural fibre composites. Flax composites exhibited better energy absorption than hemp and jute composites. The composites failed by shear cut-out, delamination and fibre fracture. It was found that the ballistic properties of the hemp composites increased significantly when a mild steel plate was used as facing and backing.