Investigations on the effect of alkali and plasma treatment of jute fabric on composite properties

Abstract

In the present study, jute fabric with plain, twill and matt weave newlinestructures were developed and made into a composite with [00]4, [00/±450/00] newlineand [00/900/900/00] lay-up angles using compression moulding technique. It is newlineobserved that the matt structure composite shows higher tensile, flexural and newlineimpact strength due to availability of more number of yarns per unit area newlinebearing the applied stress. Whereas, matt structure composite shows more newlinewater absorption followed by twill and then plain woven composites due to newlinemore number of floats in the matt structure that leads to better diffusion. With newlinerespect to the lay-up angle, [00]4 composite shows increased tensile, flexural newlineand impact strength due to more yarns in the load direction bearing the newlineapplied stress. Similarly, [00]4 composite shows more water absorption due to newlineless cross over points to hinder the flow of water. Thus, the plain woven newlinecomposite with [00]4 lay-up was optimized for further research to have newlineoptimised strength and water absorption.The plain woven jute fabrics were treated with sodium hydroxide with varying process parameters of time, temperature and concentration. This newlinewas optimized using Box and Benkhen experimental design having weight newlineloss and water absorption as dependent variables. From the experimental newlinedesign the optimum conditions were found to be 4 hrs, 300C and 5% NaOH newlineconcentration. FTIR results of the treated fabric at optimized condition shows newlinereduced absorbance intensity of the bands 2919.95 cm-1 and 1506.42 cm-1 newlinecorresponds to hemicelluloses and lignin. DSC results also show reduced newlinetemperature requirement for degrading hemicelluloses newline newline