Fabrication and Mechanical Characterization of Jute Fiber-Reinforced Melamine Matrix Composite

Jute fiber-reinforced melamine composites (16-35% fiber) were prepared by hot press at 125 degrees C for 10min at 8 MT pressure. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength of the composites (16% fiber) were found to be 44MPa, 532MPa, 112MPa, 1.4GPa and 13kJ/m2, respectively. Effect of gamma radiation on the composites was investigated. Water uptake properties of the irradiated composites were found to improve significantly. Interfacial properties of the composites were investigated by SEM and were revealed that fiber matrix adhesion was quite good.