Fabrication and Comparative Properties of Sustainable Epoxy Methacrylate of Bisphenol-C-Jute/Treated Jute- Natural Fibers Sandwich Composites: Part-1

Abstract

Epoxy methacrylate of bisphenol-C-jute/treated jute and their sandwich composites of white coir, brown coir, wild almond, bamboo, betel nut, and palmyra were prepared by a compression molding technique under 5MPa pressure and at room temperature for three h. The neat sample showed almost double tensile strength than its jute composite, while it is comparable for treated jute. The composites revealed substantially improved flexural strength compared to neat. The neat, jute/treated jute and their sandwich composites indicated good impact strength, pretty good Barcol hardness, and fairly good electric strength. The neat sample showed excellent volume resistivity, while jute/treated jute and their sandwich composites revealed reasonably good volume resistivity. The composites showed high water ingress tendency, excellent hydrolytic stability, and different diffusivity in different environments at 30oC. Water ingress trend was observed the same for all the composites in different environments, and it is H2SO4 > HCl >NaOH >H2O>NaCl. The sandwich composites may find their applications as low-cost housing and insulating materials and also for marine vessels.