Mechanical, Thermal and Interfacial Properties of Jute Fabric-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Potassium Dichromate

Jahangir A. Khan, Mubarak A. Khan, Rabiul Islam, Abdul Gafur

.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2010.16051                

Abstract

Composites based on jute fabrics and polypropylene was fabricated by heat-press molding technique. The mechanical properties of the composites such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength were measured in dependence of fiber contents. In order to improve fiber-matrix interaction, jute fabrics were treated with aqueous solutions of K2Cr2O7 (0.005-0.05% w/v). Composite prepared with 0.02% K2Cr2O7 treated jute fabrics showed the highest values of the mechanical properties. Thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) data of PP, jute fabrics and composites showed that thermal degradation temperatures of composites shifted to higher temperature regions compared to PP or jute fabrics. Treatment of jute fabrics improved the thermal stability of the composite considerably. Scanning electron microscopic images of tensile fractured sides of untreated and treated composites illustrated that better fiber-matrix interfacial interaction occurred in treated composite. The relative tendency of water absorption of both untreated and treated composites was also explored.

Keywords

Composites, Jute fabric, Polypropylene, Mechanical properties, Thermal properties

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	G. Bogoeva-Gaceva, M. Avella, M. Malinconico, A. Buzarovska, A. Grozdanov, G. Gentile, and M. E. Errico, “Natural Fiber Eco-Composites,” Polymer Composites, Vol. 28, 2007, pp. 98-107.
[2]	M. M. Hassan, M. R. Islam, S. Shehrzade and M. A. Khan, “Influence of Mercerization along with Ultraviolet (UV) and Gamma Radiation on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Jute Yarn by Grafting with 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) Propylmethacrylate (Silane) and Acrylamide Under UV Radiation,” Journal of Polymer Plastics Technology and Engineering, Vol. 42, 2003, pp. 515-531.
[3]	M. A. Khan, K. M. I. Ali, C. Koppe and G. Hinrichsen, “Study of Tensile Properties of Biopol-Jute Composites,” Journal of Polymer Plastics Technology and Engineering, Vol. 38, No.1, 1999, p. 99.
[4]	B. N. Dash, A. K. Rana, H. K. Mishra, S. K. Nayak, S. C. Misra and S. S. Tripathy, “Novel Low-Cost Jute-Polyester Composite Part 1, Processing, Mechanical Properties and SEM Analysis,” Polymer Composites, Vol. 20, No. 1, 1999, p. 62.
[5]	K. Joseph, S. Thomas and C. Pavithran, “Effect of Chemical Treatment on the Tensile Properties of Short Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Polyethylene Composites,” Polymer, Vol. 37, No. 23, 1996, pp. 5139-5149.
[6]	K. Joseph, S. Thomas and C. Pavithran, “Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Short Sisal Fiber Reinforced Low Density Polyethylene Composites,” Journal of Reinforced Plastic and Composites, Vol.12, No. 2, 1993, pp. 139-155.
[7]	S. S. Tripathy, G. Levita and L. D. Landro, “Interfacial Adhesion in Jute-Polyolefin Composites,” Journal Polymer Composites, Vol. 22, No. 6, 2001, pp. 815-822.
[8]	A. K. Mohanty, L. T. Drzal and M. Misra, “Engineered Natural Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Influence of Surface Modifications and Novel Powder Impregnation Processing,” Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, Vol. 16, 2002, p. 999.
[9]	A. L. Le?o, J. C. Caraschi and I. H. Tan, “Curaua Fiber—A Tropical Natural Fibers from Amazon Potential and Applications in Composites,” In: E. Frollini, A. L Le?o and L. H. C. Mattoso, Eds., Natural Polymers and Agrofibers Composites, Brazil, 2000, pp. 257-272.
[10]	L. Xue, L. G. Tabil and S. Panigrahi, “Chemical Treatments of Natural Fibers for Use in Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites. A Review” Journal of Polymer and the Environment, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2007, pp. 25-33.
[11]	P. J. Kangle and G. M. Nabar, “Studies in Chemically Modified Celluloses. I. Oxidative Susceptibility of Chemically Modified Cellulose,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2003, pp. 323-336.
[12]	V. A. Shenai and A. G. Date, “Studies in Chemically Modified Celluloses IX. Oxidation of Cellulose in the Presence of Chelating Agents,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2003, pp. 385-391.
[13]	A. Hebeish, A. Z. Moursi, A. Waly and M. H. El-Rafie, “Dyeing of Chemically Modified Cellulose. IV. Dyeing of Oxidized Celluloses with Some Reactive and Direct Dyes,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2003, pp. 385-394.
[14]	T. P. Nevell, “Oxidation,” In: R. L. Whistler Ed., Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry, Vol. III, Academic press, New York, 1963, pp. 164-184.
[15]	T. T. L. Doan, H. Brodowsky and E. M?der, “Jute Fiber/Polypropylene Composites II. Thermal, Hydrothermal and Dynamic Mechanical Behaviour,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 67, No. 13, 2007, pp. 2707-2714.
[16]	P. V. Joseph, K. Joseph, S. Thomas, C. K. S Pillai, V. S. Prasad, G. Groeninckx and M. Sarkissova, “The Thermal and Crystallization Studies of Short Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composite,” Composite: Part A, Vol. 34, No. 3, 2003, pp. 253-266.
[17]	S. Mohanty and S. K. Nayak, “Interfacial, Dynamic Mechanical, and Thermal Fiber Reinforced Behavior of MAPE Treated Sisal Fiber Reinforced HDPE Composites,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 102, 2006, pp. 3306-3315.
[18]	J. R. Daniel, “Encylopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering,” 2nd Edition, John Wiley, New York, 1985, pp. 109-112.
[19]	M. Idicula and S. Thomas, “Effect of Fibre Loading and Fibre Ratio on the Mechanical Properties of Intimately Mixed Banana / Sisal Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Composites,” 5th Global Wood and Natural Fibre Composites Symposium, Kassel, Germany, 2004.
[20]	F. Mengeloglu and K. Karakus, “Some Properties of Eucalyptus Wood Flour Filled Recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Polymer-Composites,” Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Vol. 32, 2008, pp. 1-10.
[21]	S. H. Aziz and M. P. Ansell, “The Effect of Alkalization and Fiber Alignment on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Kenaf and Hemp Bast Fibre Composites: Part 2-Cashew Nut Shell Liquid Matrix,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 64, 2004, pp. 1231-1238.