Mostashirul Haque

Preparation and mechanical characterization of jute reinforced polypropylene/natural rubber composite

Poly(propylene) (PP) matrix jute fiber reinforced composites were prepared by compression molding. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), percentage elongation at break (Eb%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS) and hardness of the prepared composites (50% fiber by weight) were found to be 45 MPa, 2305 MPa, 12%, 52 MPa, 4267 MPa, 18 kJ/m2 and 95 shore-A, respectively. Non-vulcanized natural rubber (NR) was blended (10—50% by weight) with PP using extruder, and films (PP + NR) were prepared by heat press for composite fabrication. Jute fiber reinforced blended PP + NR based composites (50% fiber by weight) were fabricated and characterized. It was found that TS, TM, BS, BM and hardness of the composites were decreased with the increase of NR in PP but IS and Eb% were improved significantly.

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%).