Effect of Jute Fiber’s Thermal Degradation on the Fiber Strength and its Polymer Composites

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of jute fiber’s thermal degradation on fiber strength and its polymer composite. First, we conducted a tensile strength test of a single jute fiber. Next, polyethylene and jute fibers were mixed by twin-screw extruder to make pellets. After making pellets, we used injection molding machine to make the test pieces. Tensile tests were conducted using injection molded sample. As a result, in the experiment of the single fibers, tensile strength of jute fiber monotonically decreased with increasing drying temperature. In case of composite, the tensile strength of molded sample increased with increasing control temperature in twin screw extrude in a range between 150°C ~ 220°C. When the temperature of twin-screw extruder was controlled above 300°C, pellets were burned black by thermal degradation and couldn’t fabricate the test piece.