Effect of Fiber Loading on the Mechanical Properties of Jute Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Jute fiber (woven fabric, 1 × 1 plain weave) reinforced polypropylene matrix composites were prepared by compression molding with various fiber loading such as 30%, 40%, 46%, 50%, 55% by weight. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), tensile modulus (TM), bending modulus (BM) and impact strength (IS) of the composite were assessed and analyzed. The highest value of TS, BS, TM, BM and IS were 68.1 MPa, 94.1 MPa, 2936 MPa, 4831 MPa and 14.5 kJ/m respectively with 50% fiber loading by weight. It was found that the mechanical properties of the composites were increased with the increase in jute fiber content up to 50% by weight; however, further increase in fiber loading the value decreased. On the basis of fiber content, 50% fiber reinforced composites had the optimum set of mechanical properties. Initially the water absorption rate was higher and then it became slower and static with time. Chemical ageing test with various chemical media such as H2O2, NaOH, HCl and NaCl were performed up to 168 hours. After first 24 hours the composite samples showed gradual weight gain (%) and then the weight gain was become slow and steady in the chemical solution.