Study on Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Jute Fiber Reinforced Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Composites

Abstract

Jute fiber (Hessian cloth) reinforced low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composites were prepared by heat press molding techniques. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), and elongation at break of the composites were studied. The enhancement of TS (33%) and BS (50%) were obtained as a result of reinforcment jute fabrics in LDPE. In order to improve the mechanical properties and adhesion between jute and LDPE, hessian cloth were each treated with 2-hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The HEMA-treated jute composite showed higher tensile and bending strength compared to untreated jute composite and LDPE. Dielectric properties like dielectric constant and loss tangent (tan δ) of jute, LDPE and composites were studied. Ferro to paraelectric phase transition occurred in both treated and untreated jute composites containing more than 20% jute. Water uptake behaviors of the composite were monitored and HEMA-treated composite showed lower water absorption behavior. The adhesion nature of jute and LDPE also characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), better adhesion was observed between HEMA-treated jute and LDPE over untreated ones.     

Recycled milk pouch and virgin LDPE‐LLDPE‐based jute fiber composites

The present investigation deals with the thermo‐mechanical recycling of post consumer milk pouches (LDPE‐LLDPE blend) and its use as jute fiber composite materials for engineering applications. The mechanical, thermal, morphological, and dynamic‐mechanical properties of recycled milk pouch‐based jute fiber composites with different fiber contents were evaluated and compared with those of the virgin LDPE‐LLDPE/jute fiber composites. Effect of artificial weathering on mechanical properties of different formulated composites was determined. The recycled polymer‐based jute fiber composites showed inferior mechanical properties as well as poor thermal stability compared to those observed for virgin polymer/jute fiber composites. However, the jute‐composites made with (50:50) recycled milk pouch‐virgin LDPE‐LLDPE blend as polymer matrix indicated significantly superior properties in comparison to the recycled milk pouch/jute composites. Overall mechanical performances of the recycled and virgin polymeric composites were correlated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dynamic mechanical analysis showed that storage modulus values were lower for recycled LDPE‐LLDPE/jute composites compared to virgin LDPE‐LLDPE/jute composites throughout the entire temperature range, but an increase in the storage modulus was observed for recycled‐virgin LDPE‐LLDPE/jute composites. POLYM. COMPOS. 28:78–88, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

FTIR spectra and physico-chemical behavior of vinyl ester participated transesterification and curing of jute

In this article we report the transesterification of jute with n-Butylacrylate (BA) under appropriate condition using NaOH, Pyridine (Py), and a Pyridine–acetone mixture as a catalyst. The modified vinylog jute was subsequently cured with benzoylperoxide (BPO) in acetone at 50–60°C. The parent and chemically modified jute were characterized by FTIR spectra. The percent moisture regain, mechanical strength, and behavior to common chemical reagents of the parent and modified fibers have also been tested. Transesterification and curing of jute lowered the percentage of moisture regain, imparted mechanical strength, and resistance to common chemical reagents. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 575–581, 2001     

Development and physico‐mechanical behavior of LDPE–sisal prepreg‐based composites

Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)‐coated sisal fiber prepreg was prepared by using solution coating process. These coated fiber prepregs were consolidated to make composites having different weight fraction of sisal fibers in a hot compression‐molding machine. This experimental study reveals that higher loading of sisal fiber up to 57wt% in LDPE–sisal composites is possible by this technique. Mechanical and abrasive wear characteristics of these composites were determined. The tensile strength of composites increased with the increase in sisal fiber concentration. Coating thickness of LDPE was varied by changing the viscosity of LDPE–xylene solution that manifested to different weight fraction of fiber in sisal–LDPE composites. Mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and abrasive wear characteristics of these composites were determined. The tensile strength and modulus of sisal composites reached to 17.4 and 265 MPa, respectively, as compared to 7.1 and 33MPa of LDPE. Storage modulus of sisal composites LD57 reached to 2.7 × 10⁹ MPa at 40°C as compared to 8.1 × 10⁸ MPa of LDPE. Abrasive wear properties of LDPE and its composites were determined under multi‐pass mode; pure LDPE showed minimum specific wear rate. The specific wear rate of composites decreased with the sliding distance. Increase of coated sisal fiber content increased the specific wear rate at all the sliding distances, which has been explained on the basis of worn surface microstructures observed by using SEM. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Jute composite with MMA by gamma and UV radiations in the presence of additives

Jute yarns treated with MMA + MeOH solutions were irradiated either with Co‐60 gamma source or with UV radiation. In gamma radiation, polymer loading of MMA (methyl methacrylate) onto jute increased quite substantially, but the strength of the composite decreases sharply after 15% polymer loading. The gamma‐treated jute samples were very brittle. On the other hand, jute yarns irradiated in situ under UV radiation was found to be grafted with MMA. The tensile strength of the UV‐cured jute yarn composite increases with an increase of grafting level, in contrast to the behavior observed with the gamma‐irradiated jute composite samples. The tensile properties of the composites can be further enhanced by the incorporation of certain additives and coadditives into MMA + MeOH solutions. This opens diverse applications for jute materials. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 900–906, 1999     

Effect of acetylation on dimensional stability,mechanical, and dynamic properties of jute board

Jute slivers were acetylated in pilot scale following a no catalyst‐no solvent method at 120°C for 2 h. The weight % gain was found to be 11.37. Different jute boards were pressed under heat and pressure using acetylated jute sliver and urea formaldehyde resin. Neutral salt (NaCl), acid salt (NH₄Cl), and melamine powder were used separately for curing urea formaldehyde. For comparison purposes, control boards were also prepared using nonacetylated slivers. The boards were tested for water soaking, cyclic water soaking, and cyclic humidity to see the effect of acetylation on dimensional stabilization. This chemical modification was found to improve the dimensional stability to a great extent for NaCl and NH₄Cl cured boards and to a less extent for a melamine‐cured one. Tensile and flexural strengths were tested by Instron before and after the cyclic tests. Retention values were found to be as high as 60% after cyclic water tests for acetylated boards and the same was as low as 24% for control boards. Dynamic parameters, such as storage flexural modulus (E′), loss flexural modulus (E"), and loss factor or damping efficiency (tan δ) were determined in a fixed‐frequency mode. Dynamic mechanical study revealed that tan δ peaks were lowered due to increased bulkiness of the fiber after acetylation and thus restricted mobility. A tiny additional peak was also visible at ∼90°C beside the main peak at ∼125°C for boards with modified slivers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 935–944, 1999     

Degradation Studies of Thermoplastics Composites of Jute Fiber–Reinforced LDPE/Polycaprolactone Blends

This article reports the fabrication, properties, and degradation studies of jute fiber–reinforced thermoplastic polymers. One of the non-traditional outlets of jute fiber is in the area of fiber-reinforced composites. However, the major drawback associated with the application of jute fiber for this purpose is its high moisture regain. To impart hydrophobicity to the fibers and to concomitantly increase interfacial bond strength, which is a critical factor for obtaining better mechanical properties of composites, jute fibers were treated with benzoylchloride, Y-glycidoxytrimethoxysilane, and neo-alkoxy-tri(N-ethylenediamino)ethyltitanate. Such a treatment resulted in an increase in the diameter and denier of the treated fibers, and deterioration in the mechanical properties was observed. SEM studies revealed an increase in surface roughness after titanate and alkali treatment, which in turn increases interfacial bond strength. A series of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blends with 5–20% (w/w) of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and with/without treated and untreated jute fibers were prepared by using a single-screw extruder. LDPE modified by blending with PCL (80:20, wt/wt) was used as a thermoplastic matrix. Composites were fabricated by using 1-cm-long jute fibers; the weight fraction of unmodified fibers, silane-treated fibers, and titanate-treated fibers was varied from 0.05 to 0.13. An increase in weight fraction of fibers resulted in an increase in tensile strength and modulus and decrease in elongation at break. Thin sheets and dumbbells were used for enzymatic degradation tests. The degradation of the material was monitored by weight change and loss of mechanical properties. The enzymatic degradation in the presence of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase gave appreciable weight loss in PCL and blended materials.     

Composites based on jute fibers and phenolic matrices: Properties of fibers and composites

Composites based on phenolic matrices and both untreated and alkali and ionized air–treated jute fibers were prepared. Different fiber lengths and fiber content were used to reinforce the phenolic matrices. The jute fibers were characterized with respect to lignin, holocellulose, ash, and humidity contents and also to the crystallinity index. The mechanical properties of fibers were investigated by means of tensile analysis and the morphology by SEM. The untreated and treated jute fiber–reinforced composites were characterized as to water absorption. The mechanical property and morphological aspects of the composites were evaluated by impact strength and photomicrographs obtained from SEM. Among the jute fiber treatments considered in the present work, the treatment with a solution of 5% NaOH presented the best results because: (1) the fiber presented a higher tensile strength, and a larger percentage of elongation at break; (2) the composite reinforced with this fiber presented the highest impact strength results when this was the unique treatment (20% of fiber), as well as when it was combined with ionized air (30% of fiber); and (3) the composite that presented the lowest water uptake was that reinforced with this fiber. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1077–1085, 2004     

Study on depositing SiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of jute fiber via hydrothermal method and its reinforced polypropylene composites

To improve the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites, hydrothermal method was used to deposit SiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of pretreated jute fibers and the effect of reaction factors (tetraethoxysilane [TEOS] concentration, ammonia concentration, and reaction temperature) on the deposition of SiO₂ nanoparticles were evaluated. The results of FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM showed that the amorphous SiO₂ nanoparticles with an average particle size of 65.0 nm were successfully deposited on the surface of jute fibers at the TEOS/H₂O volume ratio of 1:2, ammonia of 0.55 M, reaction temperature of 100 °C (0.15 MPa) for 5 h. Compared with the sol–gel method, SiO₂ nanoparticles obtained by the hydrothermal method possessed smaller particle size and were less agglomerated, which can better fill in the surface defects of the jute fibers and result in a 12.9% increase in the tensile strength. The study on the mechanical properties and interface performance of the jute fiber reinforced PP composites indicated that the interfacial compatibility between jute fibers and PP was obviously improved. The tensile and impact strength of the composites reinforced with nano‐SiO₂ deposited jute fibers were increased by 26.87% and 25.65%, respectively, compared with the untreated jute fibers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 26:43–54, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Thermal,Mechanical and Morphological Characterization of Jute/Gelatin Composites

Jute fabrics/gelatin biocomposites were fabricated using compression molding. The fiber content in the composite varied from 20–60 wt%. Composites were subjected to mechanical, thermal, water uptake and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. Composite contained 50 wt% jute showed the best mechanical properties. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength of the 50% jute content composites were found to be 85 MPa, 1.25 GPa, 140 MPa and 9 GPa and 9.5 kJ/m², respectively. Water uptake properties at room temperature were evaluated and found that the composites had lower water uptake compared to virgin matrix.     

Impact toughness,viscoelastic behavior,and morphology of polypropylene–jute–viscose hybrid composites

In this investigation, we studied the impact toughness and viscoelastic behavior of polypropylene (PP)–jute composites. In this study, we used viscose fiber as an impact modifier and maleated PP as a compatibilizer. The toughness of the composites was studied with conventional Charpy and instrumental falling‐weight impact tests. The composites’ viscoelastic properties were studied with dynamic mechanical analysis. The results show that the incorporation of viscose fibers improved the impact strength and toughness to 134 and 65% compared to those of the PP–jute composites. The tan δ peak amplitude also increased with the addition of the impact modifier and indicated a greater degree of molecular mobility. The thermal stability of the composites was evaluated with thermogravimetric analysis. The addition of 2 wt % maleated polypropylene (MAPP) to the impact‐modified composite improved the impact strength and toughness to 144 and 93%, respectively. The fiber–matrix morphology of the fracture surface and the Fourier transform infrared spectra were also studied to ascertain the existence of the type of interfacial bonds. Microstructural analysis showed the retention of viscose fibers in the composites compared to the more separated jute fibers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42981.     

Physico-Mechanical and Degradation Properties of Gamma-Irradiated Biocomposites of Jute Fabric-Reinforced Poly(caprolactone)

Jute fabric-reinforced poly(caprolactone) biocomposites (30–70% jute) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength of the non-irradiated composites (50% jute) were found to be 65 MPa, 0.75 GPa, 75 MPa, 4.2 GPa and 6.8 kJ/m², respectively. The composites were irradiated with gamma radiation at different doses (50–1000 krad) at a dose rate of 232 krad/hr and mechanical properties were investigated. The irradiated composites containing 50% jute showed improved physico-mechanical properties. The degradation properties of the composites were observed. The morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscope.     

Interfacial adhesion in jute‐polyolefin composites

The interfacial adhesion between four different forms of jute fibers (sliver, bleached, mercerized and untreated) and polyolefinic matrices (LDPE and PP) was studied, as a critical factor affecting the mechanical behavior of these composites. The fiber‐matrix adhesion was estimated by means of the critical fiber length (l_c) and the stress transfer ability parameter (τ); such parameters were obtained by Single Fiber Composite (SFC) tests. Tests were carried out to evaluate the mean tensile strength of the fibers, the mean critical fiber lengths and the stress transfer ability parameter for every fiber‐matrix combination, according to Weibull's statistical method. Thermal‐mechanical characterization of the fibers was also carried out to evaluate the resistance to processing conditions. A limited degradation of strength was observed, which, however, does not preclude the use of jute fibers as reinforcing means in polyolefin based composites. It was found that the adhesion was better in PP‐jute composites than in LDPE‐jute composites. In both cases the results showed that the sliver jute and the untreated jute had better adhesion to both matrices than had the bleached and the mercerized fibers. With both matrices the interface adhesion was in the order: mercerized < bleached < untreated = sliver.     

Fabrication and comparative mechanical,electrical and water absorption characteristic properties of multifunctional epoxy resin of bisphenol-C and commercial epoxy-treated and -untreated jute fiber-reinforced composites

Epoxy resin of bisphenol-C-formaldehyde (EBCF) was synthesized and its structure was confirmed by FTIR and ¹HNMR techniques. Untreated jute and a 4 % sodium hydroxide-treated jute composites of EBCF, araldites (GY508 and GY6010) and their hybrid composites were fabricated by hand layup technique followed by compression-molding technique. Mechanical, electrical and water absorption behavior of the composites was studied by standard test methods. The composites showed good mechanical and electrical properties, excellent hydrolytic stability and almost identical water absorption tendency. To some extent, alkali-treated jute composites displayed improved mechanical properties and water absorption tendency. EBCF-based jute and hybrid composites showed comparable mechanical and electrical properties and water absorption behavior with araldite-based composites. Among jute–EBCF, jute–araldite and their hybrid composites, J–EBCF showed the highest impact strength (26 kg m^?2), Barcol hardness (34), volume resistivity (2.7 × 10^?11 Ω cm) and diffusivity (7.19 × 10^?13 m² s^?2). J–GY-1 showed the highest tensile strength (43.7 MPa), flexural modulus (4.26 GPa), % equilibrium water absorption (19.36 %) and equilibrium water absorption time (480 h). Good mechanical and electrical properties and excellent hydrolytic stability of both types of the composites suggested their usefulness for low load-bearing housing, and electrical and marine applications. Thus, EBCF has found its commercial importance as that of the commercial araldite resins.     

Mechanical properties of jute fibers and interface strength with an epoxy resin

Four different forms of jute fibers, namely untreated jute filament (UJF), sliver jute filament (SJF), bleached jute filament (BJF), and mercerized jute filament (MJF), have been subjected to tensile strength analysis following Weibull's theory. The MJF and BJF were obtained by the chemical modification of the UJF. A minimum of 50 fibers of each type, at three different gauge lengths, i.e., 15, 30, and 50 mm, were used to study the strength distribution and the effect of gauge length. The mean fiber strength was found to be the maximum for UJF followed, in the order, by BJF, MJF, and SJF (∼ 700, ∼ 660, ∼ 580, and ∼ 540 MPa, respectively, at 50‐mm gauge length). The strength was also found to decrease with an increase in gauge length. In all cases, good agreement was found with Weibull's statistical model. Single fiber composite tests, with an epoxy resin as the matrix, were carried out determine the critical fragment lengths and interfacial strength, following the Kelly–Tyson approach. The BJF was found to have the maximum interfacial adhesion (τ ≈ 140 MPa) followed by UJF, SJF, and MJF having τ values of ∼ 83, ∼ 57, and ∼ 47 MPa, respectively. Scanning electron microscope pictures showed the fiber surface was physically modified by the various treatments. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 1585–1596, 2000     

Studies on jute–asphalt composites

The tensile properties of jute make it a suitable raw material for asphalt overlay (A/O) fabric. In this study, the thermal stability of jute under conditions of asphalt overlaying process was investigated and the compatibility of jute with asphalt was assessed through experimentation on jute–asphalt composites under mechanical and hygral loads. Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopic study revealed probable chemical bonding between jute and asphalt. The test for ascertaining the capability of asphalt encasement for protecting jute against biodegradation under enzymatic attack was found positive. A 6‐month hygral treatment, of the jute–asphalt composite, showed significant increase in modulus of the material. The results indicate that although the strength of jute deteriorates by about 10% under asphalt overlaying condition, the overall tensile behavior of jute fabric–asphalt composite material is considerably superior to that of the pure jute fabric, even under biological and extended hygral loading conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Banana fiber reinforced low-density polyethylene composites: effect of chemical treatment and compatibilizer addition

In this study, an attempt has been made to utilize banana fiber (a natural fiber from agricultural waste) as reinforcement for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to develop environmental friendly composite materials. LDPE/banana fiber composites were fabricated at different fiber loadings (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt %) using compression molding technique. The composite with the composition of 25 wt % banana fiber was observed to be optimum on the basis of biodegradability and mechanical properties. Further, the effect of banana fiber surface treatment (alkali and acrylic acid) on the mechanical properties, morphology and water absorption behavior of the LDPE/banana fiber composites in the absence and presence of compatibilizer (maleic anhydride grafted LDPE, MA-g-LDPE) was comparatively studied. The alkali and acrylic acid treatment of the banana fibers led to enhanced mechanical properties and water resistance property of the composites, and these properties got further improved by the addition of the compatibilizer. The addition of compatibilizer to the acrylic acid treated banana fiber composites showed the most effective improvement in the flexural and impact strength and also, exhibited a reduction in the water absorption capacity. However, the tensile strength of the compatibilized composites with treated fibers resulted in slightly lower values than those with untreated fibers, because of the degradation of fibers by chemical attack as was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. SEM studies carried out on the tensile fractured surface of the specimens showed improved fiber-matrix interaction on the addition of compatibilizer.     

Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Hessian Cloth/PP Composites with Starch

Hessian cloth (jute fabrics) reinforced poly(propylene) (PP) composites (45 wt% fiber) were prepared by compression molding and the mechanical properties were evaluated. Jute fabrics and PP sheets were treated with UV radiation at different intensities and then composites were fabricated. It was found that mechanical properties of the irradiated jute and irradiated PP-based composites were found to increase significantly compared to that of the untreated counterparts. Irradiated jute fabrics were also treated with aqueous starch solution (1–5%, w/w) for 2–10 min. Composites made of 3% starch-treated jute fabrics (5 min soaking time) and irradiated PP showed the best mechanical properties. Tensile strength, bending strength, tensile modulus, bending modulus and impact strength of the composites were found to improve 31, 41, 42, 46 and 84% higher over untreated composites. Water uptake, thermal degradation and dielectric properties of the resulting composites were also performed.     

Use of silica from rice husk ash as an antiblocking agent in low‐density polyethylene film

In packaging applications, blocking is always found in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) films. Practically, such problems can be solved by incorporation of antiblocking agents, for example, silica and talc. The objective of this research was to explore the possibility of using silica from rice husk ash (RHA silica) as an antiblocking agent in LDPE film. Properties of RHA silica were compared with commercial silica, Sylo‐1. The appropriate amount of silica to be used as an antiblocking agent in LDPE film was also investigated. The results indicate that RHA silica has a smaller particle size and a higher specific surface area but a higher bulk density than those of Sylo‐1 silica. In the plastic film industry, 500–1000 ppm of silica is added in LDPE films as an antiblocking agent. It was also found that LDPE film with 2000–3000 ppm RHA silica showed similar properties to LDPE film filled with commercial silica in terms of its blocking behavior, mechanical strength, and film clarity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 848–852, 2003     

Fracture and property relationships in the double diboride ceramic composites by spark plasma sintering of TiB2 and NbB2

Bulk titanium diboride–niobium diboride ceramic composites were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1950°C. SPS resulted in dense specimens with a density exceeding 98% of the theoretical density and a multimodal grain size ranging from 1 to 10 μm. During the SPS consolidation, the pressure was applied and released at 1950 and 1250°C, respectively. This allowed obtaining a two-phase composite consisting of TiB₂ and NbB₂. For these ceramics composites, we evaluated the flexural strength and fracture toughness and room and elevated temperatures. Room-temperature strength of thus produced bulks was between 300 and 330 MPa, at 1200°C or 1600°C an increase in strength up to 400 MPa was observed. Microstructure after flexure at elevated temperatures revealed the appearance of the needle-shape subgrains of NbB₂, an evidence for ongoing plastic deformation. TiB₂–NbB₂ composites had elastic loading stress curves at 1600°C, and at 1800°C fractured in the plastic manner, and strength was ranged from 300 to 450 MPa. These data were compared with a specimen where a (Ti,Nb)B₂ solid solution was formed during SPS to explain the behavior of TiB₂–NbB₂ ceramic composites at elevated temperatures.