Fabrication and Characterization of Jute Reinforced Polypropylene Composite: Effectiveness of Coupling Agents

Composites based on poly (propylene) (PP) matrix and both, untreated 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and starch treated jute fabrics were prepared by compression molding. Fiber content in the composites was optimized (45% by weight) with the extent of mechanical properties. HEMA solutions of different concentrations in methanol (MeOH) along with the photoinitiator Darocur-1173 were prepared. Jute fabrics treated with 15% HEMA at 20th UV (ultraviolet radiation) pass for 15 min showed better performance. For the improvement of the properties, jute fabrics were treated with starch solutions of different concentrations for different soaking times. Improved mechanical properties, such as tensile strength (19%), tensile modulus (29%), bending strength (27%), bending modulus (12%), and impact strength (60%), were found in 5% starch treated jute fabrics/PP composites as compared to the untreated composite. HEMA treated jute fabrics were again treated with starch (5%) solution and found to deliver the best results, such as tensile strength (23%), bending strength (35%), tensile modulus (33%), bending modulus (15%), and impact strength (71%), over the untreated composite. Scanning electron microscopic analysis, water uptake, thermal aging, and dielectric properties of the treated and untreated composites were performed.