Influence of chemical treatment for structure and mechanical properties of jute fibres used for polymer matrix composite producing
Aleksandra Bogdan, Jerzy Myalski, Jakub Wieczorek, Mateusz Kozioł
Quarterly No. 4, 2009 pages 358-362
DOI:
keywords: natural fibres, alkali treatment, structure - properties relationship, mechanical properties, natural fiber composites
abstract Nowadays polymer-matrix composites play essential rule as structural materials, what leads to increase in waste products. Exploitet composite materials create serious problem for natural environment. Environment protection against wasted composites contains an improvement of their removal process. In recent years particular attention is paid to materials friendly for natural environment. In composite materials glass fibers can be replaced by natural fibers because of their advantages such as: low density, low price, good mechanical properties, accessibility and degradation. Properties of natural fibers, and proper-ties of their composites, depend on their structure and volume fraction of structural phase. Increase in mechanical properties of the fibers can be achieved as effect of surface modification. This paper apply to analysis of changes proceeded in jute fiber as effect of chemical treatment. In order to enhance mechanical properties physical and chemical treatment were applied. Physical methods, such as stretching, calandering, thermo-treatment, and the production of hybrid yarns do not change the chemical composition of the fibres. Physical treatments change structural and surface properties of the fibre and thereby influence the mechanical bondings to polymers. Chemical modification method are mercerization, graft copolymerization or treatment with isocyanates. Chemical methods lead to occurring of new compounds, which increase an adhesion between fibres and polymer matrix. Influence of chemical treatment was determined on the basis of changes of mechanical properties of single fibers and variation of spiral angle of jute yarn. In this research jute fibers were treated with alkaline solution Mg(OH)2, concentration 5%, 15% and 30%. The fibers were treated with each alkaline solution for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 hours. The mechanical properties of jute fibers were tested on ZWICK/ Z 2,5 machine. Profilograph MICRO PROF FRT was used to investigate the changes of spiral angle in jute fibers. This study proves that the process of alkalization improves mechanical properties of jute fibers. Chemical treatment have an effect on changes of spiral angle of jute fibers too. During mercerization, swelling of native cellulosic materials in the alkali solution, which is the main polymorphic modification of cellulose, causes a rearrangement of the crystal packing of chains from native cellulose I to cellulose II. The best result has been received for 15% Mg(OH)2 solution for one hour. The investigations are only a part of a research concerning manufacture technology of polymer-matrix composite materials.