Jute fiber (hessian cloth)-reinforced polypropylene matrix composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of the composites were found to be 48 MPa, 2.5 GPa, 56 MPa, 4.5 GPa, and 18 kJ/m2, respectively. Then E-glass fiber (woven)-reinforced polypropylene-based composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated and the mechanical properties were compared with those of the jute-based composites. It was revealed that E-glass fiber-based composites had almost double the mechanical properties as compared to jute composites. The interfacial shear strength of the jute and E-glass fiber-based systems was investigated and found to be 2.13 and 4.66 MPa, respectively, measured using the single-fiber fragmentation test. Fracture sides after flexural testing of both types of the composites were studied by scanning electron microscope and the results revealed poor fiber matrix adhesion for jute-based composites when compared to that of the E-glass fiber composites.

Polypropylene (PP) matrix synthetic phosphate based degradable fiber reinforced unidirectional composites (10% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), and impact strength (IS) were found to be 38 MPa, 1.5 GPa, 12%, 44 MPa, 4.9 GPa, and 7.58 kJ/m 2 respectively. Degradation tests of the fibers and composites were performed for six months in aqueous medium at room temperature (258C). After six months, the mechanical properties of the composites retained almost 80% of their original properties. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composites were also measured by single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT). The IFSS of the composite system was found 5.9 MPa that indicated good fiber matrix adhesion.

Static structure factors, S(q), thermodynamic properties and shear viscosities for liquid Zn, Cd, Hg, In, Tl, Sn, Pb, Sb, and Bi are investigated systematically. A model pseudotential which combines the sp‐ and d‐band contributions is employed to derive interionic interactions. The liquid state is described by using the thermodynamically self‐consistent variational modified hypernetted chain (VMHNC) integral equation theory, and also by using the linearised version of the Weeks‐Chandler‐Andersen (LWCA) thermodynamic perturbation theory of liquids. Results of calculations for all of the above properties are found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. The calculated results also reveal qualitatively that there is a relationship between the rate of change of viscosity with temperature and the depth of the potential well concerned.

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The mechanical properties of the coir fibers were evaluated in this study. Tensile strength (TS), Young's modulus (YM) and elongation at break (Eb%) of virgin coir fibers were found to be 152 MPa, 5.3 GPa and 36%, respectively. Coir fibers were treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation and were found to improve the mechanical properties significantly. Coir fiber-reinforced ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA)-based composite was prepared and characterized. The surface of the coir fibers was modified with monomer EGDMA under UV radiation. Soaking time, monomer (EGDMA) concentration and radiation intensities were optimized over mechanical properties. The highest values of TS, YM, Eb and polymer loading (PL) were found for 50% EGDMA at 125th pass of UV radiation for 7 min soaking time. Pretreatment with UV radiation on the coir fiber was found to be more effective for the increment of its mechanical properties. The surface of the fiber was also mercerized (alkali treatment) using aqueous NaOH solutions (5-50%) at varied time and temperature. It was found that TS of the mercerized composites increased with the increase in NaOH solutions (up to 10%) and then