Kamol Dey

Comparative Studies of Mechanical and Interfacial Properties between Jute and Bamboo Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene-Based Composites

Jute and bamboo fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) based composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), tensile modulus (TM), and bending modulus (BM) of the jute-reinforced PP composite were found to be 48, 56, 900, and 1500 MPa, respectively. Then, bamboo fiber-reinforced PP-based composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated and the mechanical properties evaluated. The TS, BS, TM, and BM of bamboo-reinforced PP composites were found to be 60, 76, 4210, and 6210 MPa, respectively. It was revealed that bamboo fiber-based composites had higher TS, BS, TM, and BM compared to jute-based composites. Degradation tests of the composites (jute fiber/PP and bamboo fiber/PP) were performed in soil at ambient conditions for up to 24 weeks. It was revealed that bamboo fiber/PP composite retained its original mechanical properties higher than that of jute fiber/PP composite. The interfacial shear strength of the jute and bamboo fiber-based composites was investigated using the single-fiber fragmentation test and it was found to be 2.14 and 4.91 MPa, respectively. Fracture sides of the composites were studied by scanning electron microscope, and the results revealed poor fiber matrix adhesion for jute fiber-based composites compared to that of the bamboo fiber-based composites.

Effect of Iron Phosphate Glass on the Physico-mechanical Properties of Jute Fabric-reinforced Polypropylene-based Composites

Jute fabric (hessian cloth)-reinforced polypropylene (PP)-based composites (30 wt% fiber) were prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), and impact strength (IS) of the composites were found to be 28, 280, 31, 440 MPa, and 18 kJ/m2, respectively. Iron phosphate glass powder (5 wt%) was added (as filler) onto jute fabrics by hand lay-up technique and then PP-based composites were fabricated. The mechanical properties of the jute + glass-reinforced PP-based composites (30 wt% fiber) were found to increase significantly compared to that of jute + PP composite. Degradation tests of the composites were performed up to 6 months in soil medium at ambient conditions and reported slow degradation of mechanical properties of jute + glass composite over jute composite.

Preparation and Characterization of Gelatin-Based PVA Film: Effect of Gamma Irradiation

Gelatin-based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films were prepared (using a casting process) by mixing aqueous solutions of gelatin and PVA in different ratios. Monomer 1, 4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) was dissolved in methanol. Films containing 95% gelatin + 5% PVA were soaked in 3% BDDA monomer (w/w). These films were then irradiated under gamma radiation (60Co) at different doses (50–500 krad) at a dose rate of 350 krad/h. The physico-mechanical and thermal properties of these films were evaluated. It was evident that 5% PVA-containing gelatin blend film exhibited the highest tensile strength (TS) value at 50 krad (51 MPa), which was 46% higher than that of non-irradiated blend films. It was also found that incorporation of PVA significantly reduced the TS value of the blend films compared to the raw film, whereas elongation at break (Eb) value was increased. A significant improvement of the blend films was also confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA) when the acrylate group (from BDDA) was introduced into the film.

Mechanical, Degradation and Interfacial Properties of Chitosan Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Polypropylene (PP) matrix natural degradable chitosan fiber reinforced unidirectional composites (5% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. It was found that tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM) and impact strength (IS) were found to be 30 MPa, 771 MPa, 11%, 35 MPa, 2360 MPa and 6.5 kJ/m2 respectively. Degradation tests of the fibers and composites were performed for 2 weeks and 6 months, respectively in aqueous medium at room temperature (25°C). After six months, the mechanical properties of the composites retained almost 65% of their original properties. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composites was also measured by single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT). The IFSS of the composite system was found to be 0.44 MPa.

Comparative Studies of Mechanical and Interfacial Properties Between Jute Fiber/PVC and E-Glass Fiber/PVC Composites

Composites (50 wt% fiber) of jute fiber reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix and E-glass fiber reinforced PVC matrix were prepared by compression molding. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM) and impact strength (IS) of both types of composites was evaluated and compared. Values of TS, TM, BS, BM and IS of jute fiber/PVC composites were found to be 45 MPa, 802 MPa, 46 MPa, 850 MPa and 24 kJ/m2, respectively. It was observed that TS, TM, BS, BM and IS of E-glass fiber/PVC composites were found to increase by 44, 80, 47, 92 and 37.5%, respectively. Thermal properties of the composites were also carried out, which revealed that thermal stability of E-glass fiber/PVC system was higher. The interfacial adhesion between the fibers (jute and E-glass) and matrix was studied by means of critical fiber length and interfacial shear strength that were measured by single fiber fragmentation test. Fracture sides after flexural testing of both types of the composites were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Fabrication and Mechanical Characterization of Calcium Alginate Fiber-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Composites

Calcium alginate fibers were prepared from sodium alginate by extruding aqueous sodium alginate solution (4% by weight) into a calcium chloride (2% by weight) bath. Water uptake and mechanical properties of the calcium alginate fiber were investigated. Water uptake tests of calcium alginate showed that it absorbed 50% of water within a minute and indicated strong hydrophilic nature. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based calcium alginate fiber reinforced unidirectional composites (10% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM) and impact strength (IS) of the PVA matrix and the composite were evaluated. TS, BS, TM, and BM of the PVA matrix were found 10, 18, 320 and 532 MPa, respectively. TS and BS of the PVA based composite were found to be 16 and 27 MPa, respectively, which were 60 and 50% higher than that of the PVA matrix. TM and BM of the composite were found to be 620 and 1056 MPa, respectively, which were improved by 94 and 98% over the matrix material. Degradation tests of the composites were performed for up to 2 months in soil medium and found that composites lost almost 50% of its original mechanical properties. The interfacial properties of the composite were also investigated by using the single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT).

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°C for 10 min at 8 MT pressure. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength of the composites (16% fiber) were found to be 44 MPa, 532 MPa, 112 MPa, 1.4 GPa and 13 kJ/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.

Thermo-Mechanical and Interfacial Properties of Calcium Alginate Fiber-Reinforced Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Composite

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix calcium alginate fiber reinforced unidirectional composites (10% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus and impact strength were found to be 19 MPa, 696 MPa, 32 MPa, 1150 MPa and 18 kJ/m2, respectively. Degradation tests of composites were performed for twelve weeks in soil and it was found that composites retained almost 70% of its original strength. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composites was also measured by single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT).

Study on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Jute-Reinforced Methyl Acrylate Grafted PET Composites

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) granules were grafted with methyl acrylate (MA) from the solution containing 10% MA in methanol (86%) solvent and photo initiator (4%) for 10 min and then cured under UV radiation. MA-grafted PET films were prepared at 260°C and 5 ton pressure using heat press. Jute fabric-reinforced, MA-grafted, PET-based composites (25% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Mechanical, thermal and soil degradation tests of the composites were performed. It was found that the MA grafted PET composites showed higher mechanical properties over the ungrafted PET/jute composite.

Studies on the Mechanical and Degradation Properties of Jute Fabric-Reinforced Natural Rubber Composite: Effect of Gamma Radiation

Jute fabric-reinforced natural rubber (NR) based composites were produced by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (Eb) bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), and softness of the composite were 30 MPa, 395 MPa, 65%, 10 MPa, 2130 MPa, and 79 Shore-A, respectively. Degradation nature of the composite was investigated in soil and aqueous medium. To improve the compatibility between fiber and matrix, the composites were irradiated with gamma rays. Total radiation dose varied from 50 to 1000 krad. Tensile properties of the irradiated (250 krad) composites improved significantly (TS and TM increased 47% and 147%).