ABSTRACT:A study was done of jute composite using a polymer matrix of epoxidized Novolac resin (ENR), diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)-based epoxy, and their blends with different weight percentages of the resins. It was found that on blending ENR with DGEBA, the storage modulii at room temperature are enhanced by about 100% or more in the case of 30 and 40% ENR-containing matrices, whereas the enhancement in the case of 20 and 12% ENR-containing matrices is only 50% that of the pure matrix. It was also observed that the tan ␦ peak heights of the composites containing 30 and 40% ENR are closer to that of 20% ENR-containing composite. The probable explanation drawn on the basis of experimental findings of DMA and mechanical analysis is that by blending ENR with DGEBA epoxy it is possible to manufacture jute composites with increased stiffness without sacrificing their ductility.
ABSTRACT:The mechanical properties such as the tenacity, breaking extension, initial modulus, elastic and work recovery, and stress relaxation behavior of methyl methacrylate (MMA) grafted silk fibers prepared under different conditions were measured and explained in terms of the relative dominance of the stress concentration, reduction in the interchain cohesion, and fiber matrix stiffening at different grafting percentages. The moisture regain characteristics of fibers grafted in the presence of different solvents were also studied and compared. The grafting of MMA on silk was found to improve the recovery properties significantly without affecting the stress relaxation behavior. The moisture regain studies indicate that moisture regain is reduced with increasing length of the grafted poly(MMA) chains.
Natural fibres are partly replacing currently used synthetic fibres as reinforcement for polymer composites. Jute fibre bundles were high-cellulose-content modified by alkali treatment, while the bagasse fibre bundles were modified by creating quinones in the lignin portions of fibre surfaces and reacting them with furfuryl alcohol (FA) to increase their adhesiveness. The effects of different fibre bundle loading and modification of bagasse fibre surfaces in hybrid fibre reinforced epoxy composites have been studied. The role of fibre/matrix interactions in chemically modified hybrid composites were investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Differential Thermo Gravimetry, and a Universal Tensile Machine and compared with those of unmodified bagasse fibre bundles incorporated with modified jute fibre bundles reinforced hybrid composites. Fibre surface modification reduced the hydrophilicity of fibre bundles, and significantly increased mechanical properties of hybrid composites were observed in conjunction with SEM images. The SEM analysis of the fibre and the composite fractured surfaces have confirmed the FA grafting and shown a better compatibility at the interface between chemically modified fibre bundles and epoxy resin. This paper incorporates interesting results of thermomechanical properties and evaluation of fibre/matrix interactions.
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