Jute-reinforced polyester composites

Abstract

Raw jute fibre has been incorporated in a polyester resin matrix to form uniaxially reinforced composites containing up to 60 vol% fibre. The tensile strength and Young's modulus, work of fracture determined by Charpy impact and inter-laminar shear strength have been measured as a function of fibre volume fraction. These properties all follow a Rule of Mixtures relationship with the volume fraction of jute. Derived fibre strength and Young's modulus were calculated as 442 MN m⁻² and 55.5 GN m⁻² respectively. Polyester resin forms an intimate bond with jute fibres up to a volume fraction of 0.6, above which the quantity of resin is insufficient to wet fibres completely. At this volume fraction the Young's modulus of the composite is approximately 35 GN m⁻², the tensile strength is 250 MN m⁻², the work of fracture is 22 kJ m⁻² and the inter-laminar shear strength is 24 MN m⁻². The properties of jute and glass fibres are compared, and on a weight and cost basis jute fibres are seen in many respects to be superior to glass fibres as a composite reinforcement.