Physio-mechanical and wear properties of novel jute reinforced natural rubber based flexible composite

This paper deals with the design, fabrication, physio-mechanical and wear characterization of the composites prepared from naturally available jute fiber and rubber matrix materials. Jute and natural rubber are cost effective, abundant and environmental friendly materials which can be used as fiber and matrix respectively. The flexible composite with different stacking sequence are manufactured using compression moulding machine and void percentage, water absorption percentage, tensile properties, tear strength, impact strength and shore hardness of the prepared composites are found along with the wear. The void content and water absorption are found to increase with increased number of plies in the composite with fibers contributing more compared to rubber. Tensile, tear, specific wear rate and hardness are found to better with a composite having minimum number of plies, which is JRJ. Charpy impact test revealed that the variation in specific impact strength of the three configuration of composites are negligible and no failure of composites were absorbed owing to their flexibility indicating all the three composites have additional capability to absorb much higher energy and suitable as sacrificial components for structural applications subjected to low velocity impact. The fractography analysis of tensile and tear test shows that the flexible composites are free from matrix cracking, but matrix tearing plays a vital role in failure. The mechanism of wear involved in the proposed composites when different constituents of the composite are exposed to abrasive medium is studied through surface morphology.