Suvasree Saha

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.

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).

Effect of the Incorporation of PVC on the Mechanical Properties of the Jute-Reinforced LLDPE Composite

Jute fabrics-reinforced linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix composites (50 wt% fiber) were prepared by compression molding and mechanical properties were studied. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix was incorporated instead of LLDPE in the jute based composites and their mechanical properties were investigated and compared with the control composites. It was found that with the increase of PVC in the LLDPE based composites, the mechanical properties were found to improve significantly. Degradation tests of the composites for upto 24 weeks were performed in soil medium. Water uptake and Thermo-mechanical properties of the composites were also studied.

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.

Fabrication and Characterization of Jute Fabric-Reinforced PVC-based Composite:

Jute fabrics (hessian cloth) reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based composites were prepared by compression molding. Jute content varied from 40–60 wt% in the composites. Four layers of jute fabrics were compression molded with five layers of PVC. It was found that the composite containing 40% jute fabrics showed the best performance. The values of tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), tensile modulus (TM), and bending modulus (BM) of the composite (40 wt% jute fabrics) were found to be 59.3 MPa, 62.6 MPa, 1.3 GPa, and 3.2 GPa, respectively. The values of TS and BS were improved to 77% and 46%, respectively, compared to the matrix material PVC. Scanning electron microscopic analysis was carried out to investigate the interfacial properties of the composites. Degradation tests of the composites (up to 6 months) were performed in soil medium and showed partial degradation nature.

Fabrication and Characterization of Gelatin Fiber-based Linear Low-density Polyethylene Foamed Composite

A composite based on gelatin fiber-reinforced linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix was fabricated using compression molding. Two layers of gelatin fibers were sandwiched with three layers of LLDPE sheets. Gelatin fiber was prepared from 20% gelatin-based aqueous solution by extrusion method. Composites with varying percentages of gelatin fiber (1-10%) were made. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), elongation at break (Eb), tensile modulus (TM), bending modulus (BM,) and hardness were taken. TS, TM, Eb (%), TM, BM, and hardness of the composite (10% fiber) were found to be 1.67 MPa, 1.14 MPa, 96%, 25.8 MPa, 507.6 MPa, and 92 shore A, respectively. The density of the composite with 10% gelatin fiber was found to be 0.66 g/cm3, which was less than the density of gelatin (1.58 g/cm3) and LLDPE (0.905 g/cm3). The water uptake capacity of the composite with 10% gelatin fiber was found to be 16.65% after 60 min.