Poly(propylene) (PP) matrix jute fiber reinforced composites were prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), percentage elongation at break (Eb%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS) and hardness of the prepared composites (50% fiber by weight) were found to be 45 MPa, 2305 MPa, 12%, 52 MPa, 4267 MPa, 18 kJ/m2 and 95 shore-A, respectively. Non-vulcanized natural rubber (NR) was blended (10—50% by weight) with PP using extruder, and films (PP + NR) were prepared by heat press for composite fabrication. Jute fiber reinforced blended PP + NR based composites (50% fiber by weight) were fabricated and characterized. It was found that TS, TM, BS, BM and hardness of the composites were decreased with the increase of NR in PP but IS and Eb% were improved significantly.
Jute fabrics (hessian cloth) reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites (30% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), and percentage elongation at break (Eb) of the composites were found to be 32 MPa, 740 MPa, and 16%, respectively. Then jute fabrics reinforced solid natural rubber (NR)-based composites (30% fiber by weight) were also fabricated and it was found that TS, TM, and Eb of the jute/NR composites were 14 MPa, 120 MPa, and 94%, respectively. The mechanical properties of jute/PP and jute/NR composites were compared. Six weeks of degradation of the composites were performed in aqueous medium and it was found that jute/NR composites lost much of its original strength and modulus compared to that of the jute/PP composites. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the jute/PP and jute/NR systems was investigated by using the single fiber fragmentation tests. The IFSS of jute/PP and jute/NR systems appeared to be 2.16 and 0.89 MPa, respectively. Fracture side of the composites was also studied by scanning electron microscope and suggested better fiber matrix adhesion between jute fiber and PP.
In this study, several batches of natural rubber (SMR L) were compounded with three different types of accelerators, which were N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulphenamide (CBS), diphenylguanidine (DPG) and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC). ZDEC is known as an ultrafast accelerator. The rubber compounds were cured at 140°C, 130°C, 120°C, 110°C and 100°C in accordance with the temperature gradients observed within the thick rubber block. The main aim of this study is to cure the rubber at each temperature region to the same cure time as that of the outermost region (20 minutes at 140°C). The amount of sulfur and accelerator were adjusted accordingly at each curing temperature to match the state of cure at 140°C. The state of cure of of the vulcanized rubbers were measured using hardness and tensile strength. The same state of cure is achieved if the hardness and tensile strength value are within ±2 IRHD and ±3 MPa, respectively with that of the control vulcanized rubber (hardness and tensile strength cured at 140°C). The results shows that the hardness and tensile strength of the vulcanized rubber at each temperature region are within the expected margins. The results clearly indicated that the type and amount of accelerators, and the amount of sulfur were correctly chosen at each temperature.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.