Static and dynamic mechanical properties of novel treated jute/green epoxy composites

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to evaluate the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of woven jute fabric-reinforced green epoxy composites as a function of modification of jute fibers by enzyme, CO2 pulsed infrared laser and ozone treatments. The treated jute fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Composites were prepared by the hand layup method and compression molding technique and the resin curing process was optimized with the help of differential scanning calorimetry. The treatments resulted in the enhancement of flexural and impact properties. Statistical analysis of mechanical properties of composites, done by one-way analysis of variance, showed significant differences between the results obtained. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results revealed that treated composites have a higher storage modulus over the range of temperature. A positive shift of loss modulus and tangent delta peaks of treated composites to higher temperature was observed. The reduction in the tangent delta peak height of treated composites was also observed due to improvement in fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion. The degree of interfacial adhesion between the jute fiber and green epoxy was anticipated using the adhesion factor obtained through DMA data. Complex modulus variations and phase behavior of composites was studied by Cole-Cole analysis.