Evaluating the Durability of Jute Fiber: A Study on Thermal, Mechanical,
and Degradability Properties.
Introduction
Natural fibers are attracting significant interest in the field of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites due
to the continuous increase of environmental awareness among environmental activists and consumers of
the product all over the world. Moreover, the biodegradability of natural fibers makes them attractive as
reinforcements in composite materials [1]. The use of natural fibers is growing in many fields by
materials producers and industries such as automobiles, furniture, packing and textiles due to their good
mechanical properties and the fact that they are environmentally friendly compared to synthetic fibers [2].
In addition, the availability, low cost, higher specific mechanical properties, low density, and better
thermal and acoustic properties are considered the key selection parameters for developing natural fiber
composites [3-4]. However, a significant improvement in the strength of jute-fiber-reinforced composites
is necessary to allow the use of jute fibers in the structural composite industry. The mechanical properties
of natural fiber composites are mainly governed by the fiber architecture, fiber placement technique, and
the quality of the interface between the fiber and matrix [5-6]. It is, therefore, of particular interest to use
jute fibers as reinforcement in polymer matrix. Composites made of jute fibers have high tensile and
flexural properties compared with other natural fibers [7]. As jute fiber absorbs moisture to a great extent,
having a moisture regain of 13.75%, it has poor wettability with an organic matrix resin, resulting in a
weak interfacial bonding between the fibers and commercially available resins such as polyester resin,
epoxy resin, phenolic resin, amino resin, etc. To get rid of this, various kinds of surface treatments, such
as chemical, thermal, plasma discharge, electrochemical, rare earth solution, and gamma radiation, can be
applied to increase the adhesion among the fibers and matrix. Gamma radiation is a strong ionizing
radiation which can rearrange the internal structure of the material and reduce its hydrophilic nature,
which helps with better crosslinking between the natural fiber [8]. Many researchers have worked on the
effect of gamma radiation on composite materials[9]. Gamma radiation’s effect on mechanical properties
was also studied on raw and polyethylene glycol modified bleached jute-reinforced polyester composite,
who found that gamma radiation improved the mechanical properties up to a certain level, then started to
decrease [10]. Another widely studied method is the incorporation of nanoparticles, such as titanium
dioxide (TiO₂), which enhances the fiber’s thermal resistance, mechanical strength, and UV degradation
resistance. Additionally, polymer-based coatings, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), have been explored to
improve moisture resistance and durability [11]. it was observed that Jute fibers treated with 2 % alkali
concentration for 24 h exhibited better outcome in terms of tensile and modulus by 40 % and 9 %
respectively, whereas coir fibers treated with 6 % alkali concentration for 24 h displayed tensile
strength as 62 % and modulus as 17 %. Meanwhile, at 2% alkali concentration on jute and coir fiber
composites represented elongation by 8 % and 13.5 % respectively [12]. used 20mm length fiber with
three different percentages of 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5% and evaluate the toughness and mechanical properties
of concrete [13]. Understanding jute’s thermal behavior when treated with fire retardant chemicals is
essential to imparting. The thermal behavior of jute fibers is the summation of their carbohydrate and
lignin components, the cellulose contribution normally predominating because of its higher reactivity
[14]. Thermal analysis of these untreated and treated fibers has been an important tool in visualizing the
physico-chemical nature of these fibers, and it determines their commercial significance. Studied the
thermal behavior of alkali-treated coir fibers and correlated the thermal behavior with the physico-
chemical behavior of the fibers. Studied the effects of different chemical treatments on the thermal
behavior of jute fibers, treated PALF with 4%–16% NaOH solutions and observed the effect of alkali
treatment on the thermal stability of the fibers[15]. Jute is a lignocellulosic fiber with hemicellulose (24 ),
a-cellulose ( 6096 ), and lignin (14%) as the main constituents. The thermal behaviors of these
components should differ due to differences in their chemical nature. Some preliminary work on the
thermal behavior of jute fibers has been reported [16].
Reference
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8. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib8090058
9. Haydaruzzaman; Khan, R.A.; Khan, M.A.; Khan, A.H.; Hossain, M.A. Effect of gamma radiation
on the performance of jute fabrics-reinforced polypropylene composites. Radiat. Phys.
Chem. 2009, 78, 986–993.
10. Hoque, M.A.; Bhuiya, A.K.; Saiduzzaman; Islam, A.; Khan, M.A. Effect of γ (gamma)-radiation on
mechanical properties of raw and polyethylene glycol-modified bleached jute reinforced polyester
composite. World J. Eng. 2017, 14, 108–113.
11. Mechanical properties of nano titanium oxide particles - hybrid jute-glass FRP
composites☆G. Seshanandan a, D. Ravindran b, T. Sornakumar a
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2016.04.019
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14. Thermal Analysis of Chemically Treated Jute Fibers S. N. PANDEY, A. DAY, AND M. D. MATHEW
Jute Technological Research Laboratories, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Calcutta 700
040, India
15. Study of the Thermal Behavior of Alkali-Treated Jute Fibers -DIPARAY,1 B. K. SARKAR,1 R. K.
BASAK,2 A. K. RANA2 - 1 Department of Materials Science, Indian Association for the Cultivation
of Science,2A & B Raja S.C. Mallick Road, Jadavpur,Kolkata700032, India
16. DOI: 10.1177/004051759306301107
