Effect of alkaline treatment on physical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of jute filler reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

With burgeoning environmental concerns worldwide, using natural fibers/ fillers to produce composites rather than conventional fibers is on the rise. The current work focuses on the physical and thermomechanical characteristics of alkaline-treated jute filler-based epoxy composites. The composites have been prepared with different weight fraction of jute fillers (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) using hand layup process. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis observed that the alkali treatment of jute fillers improved the crystallinity and molecular structure, enhancing the interfacial and molecular bond between fillers and matrix. The mechanical characterizations of developed composites analyzed that the inclusion of treated jute fillers strengthened the tensile and flexural properties. The 5% filler-based composites have demonstrated maximum tensile strength (54.06 MPa) and modulus (3.12 GPa) with maximum flexural strength (67.55 MPa) and modulus (3.90 GPa). The viscoelastic characteristics of composites revealed that the 7.5% filler-based composite has the highest storage modulus (3.75 GPa), loss modulus (0.496 GPa), and glass transition temperature (91 C) due to greater interfacial interactions of molecules. The weight loss and degradation of composites analyzed with thermogravimetric analysis, and observed better thermal stability with treated jute fillers. The morphological analysis at fracture surfaces analyzed the brittle catastrophic failure of composites. Therefore, the finding produced better specific strength and stiffness with greater thermal stability for electronics equipment, packaging, and transportation.

Degradation of biobased poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) and polyglycolide acid blends under lipase conditions

“…After that, the drastic fall of around 50% weight occurs in the second stage when the temperature remains between 380°C and 430°C due to the degradation of PEF/PGA blends. Final stage, the left‐over substances showed the weight to fall nearby 10%–14% up to the finishing temperature of 550°C due to the carbonization and phase transformation of the materials 34–36 . Furthermore, it was also noted that both the T d,5% and T d,max of the blends decreased after PGA was introduced into the PEF matrix, this is mainly due to the fact that the PGA molecular chain has numerous carbonyl groups, resulting in relatively poor thermal stability of PEF/PGA blends compared with neat PEF.…”

“…Final stage, the leftover substances showed the weight to fall nearby 10%-14% up to the finishing temperature of 550 C due to the carbonization and phase transformation of the materials. [34][35][36] Furthermore, it was also noted that both the T d,5% and T d,max of the blends decreased after PGA was introduced into the PEF matrix, this is mainly due to the fact that the PGA molecular chain has numerous carbonyl groups, resulting in relatively poor thermal stability of PEF/PGA blends compared with neat PEF. However, all the blends showed the T d,5% ranging from 310 C to 340 C and the T d,max ranging from 385 C to 410 C. Based on the above results, it indicated that those blends possess excellent thermal stability, and PEF/PGA blends can be processed safely without thermal degradation below 300 C.…”

Recent progress in thermal and acoustic properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites: Preparation, characterization, and data analysis

“…Jute fibers are often utilized in flooring carpet, household, and industrial textile materials. [88][89][90][91][92][93][94] Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a bast fiber that is collected from the stem of the plant. Europe and Asia are the predominant hemp-growing regions.…”

“…The use of jute composites can replace wood. Jute fibers are often utilized in flooring carpet, household, and industrial textile materials 88–94 …”

Characterization of hemp fiber fire reaction

“…As example alkaline solution cannot be associated with phosphate-based treatment. Alkaline treatments based on alkali metal hydroxide are already used on naturals fibers [9,17] but in such case carbonation may occur and alter the durability of the treatment. Concerning details of the treatments, information are not available due to confidentiality reasons.…”