Structure and mechanical properties of jute-polylactic acid biodegradable composites

In this study, biodegradable composites based on jute and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared by a film-stacking process. The effect of jute fiber content, processing temperature, and alkali treatment on the structure and mechanical properties of jute-PLA composites were investigated. The interfacial structure between jute fibers and PLA was analysed by scanning electron microscope. The optimum tensile properties of jute-PLA composites were obtained at 15 wt% fiber content and a processing temperature of 210 degrees C. Both the maximum flexural modulus and strength of composites were obtained at 220 degrees C and 15 wt% fiber contents. X-ray diffraction profiles showed that the crystallinity of jute fibers was changed from cellulose I to cellulose II after alkali treatment. Meanwhile, the tensile modulus of single jute fiber and jute-PLA composites were increased by 29% and 76%, respectively. The modified equation of the rule of mixture was more suitable to predict tensile modulus of jute-PLA composites than the conventional Halpin-Tsai model and the relative error was less than 8%.