Development and characterisation of multi-layered jute fabric-reinforced HDPE composites

Abstract

The bast fibres, a subgroup of natural fibre family, have emerged as a strong competitor of widely used man-made glass fibre for use as fillers or reinforcing materials in certain types of composite materials, which do not require very high mechanical resistance. This paper investigates the manufacturing of multi-layered jute fabric-reinforced thermoplastic composite and its mechanical performance. Hessian jute fabrics in two, four and six layers without any pre-treatment were sandwiched in 0° orientation into seven layers of high-density polyethylene sheets and pressed at high temperature and pressure to form composite laminates having three different structural designs. The laminates with two, four and six layers contain approximately 6.70 wt%, 12.90 wt% and 18.50 wt% of jute fibres, respectively. Mechanical performance of the composite laminates having four and six layers of jute fabric was found to have improved significantly when compared to the pure high-density polyethylene laminates. Within a given sample thickness of 6.5 mm, the laminate with six layers of jute fabric exhibited the best mechanical performance. Optical microscopic analysis revealed that the yarn orientation of the fabrics within the composites remained stable, and there was no visible void in the laminate structure. Fracture morphology of the composite investigated by a scanning electron microscope showed good adhesion of the jute fabrics with the high-density polyethylene matrix.