Improvement of physico-mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composites by post-treatment

jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were manufactured using injection molding method. Raw jute fiber was oxidized and manufactured composites were post-treated with urotropine. Both raw and oxidized jute fiber at four level of loading (20, 25, 30 and 35 wt%) was utilized during manufacturing. Microstructural analysis and mechanical tests were conducted. Post-treated specimens yielded better mechanical properties compared to the oxidized and raw ones. Based on fiber loading, 30% fiber reinforced composites had the optimum set of mechanical properties. Authors propose that the bonding between the polypropylene matrix and urotropine treated jute fiber must be improved in order to have better mechanical properties at higher fiber content. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.