Production and Properties of Short Jute and Short E-Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene-Based Composites

Md Nuruzzaman Khan, Juganta K. Roy, Nousin Akter, Haydar U. Zaman, Tuhidul Islam, Ruhul A. Khan

Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Department of Biochemical Engineering, Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany.
Nuclear and Radiation Chemistry Division, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Nuclear and Radiation Chemistry Division, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh;.

DOI: 10.4236/ojcm.2012.22006                

Abstract

Short jute fiber (2 - 3 mm) reinforced polypropylene PP-based composites (20% fiber by weight) were fabricated using compression molding and the mechanical properties were evaluated. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (Eb%), flexural strength (FS), flexural modulus (FM), impact strength (IS), and hardness of the composites were found to be 32 MPa, 850 MPa, 12%, 38 MPa, 1685 MPa, 18 kJ/m2 and 96 shore-A, respectively. Then short E-glass fiber (2 - 3 mm) reinforced PP-based composites (20% fiber by weight) were fabricated and mechanical properties were compared with short jute-based composites. Short jute-based composites showed excellent mechanical properties and comparable to short E-glass-based composites. Soil degradation test of both types of composites indi-cated that jute/PP composites significantly lost much of its mechanical properties but E-glass/PP composites retained major portion of its original integrity. Interfaces of the degraded composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and supported the biodegradation properties of jute/PP composites.

Keywords

Jute Fiber; E-Glass Fiber; Composites; Compression Molding; Polypropylene

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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