Jute fabrics (hessian cloth) reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites were fabricated by compression molding. Jute fabrics and matrices were irradiated with gamma and UV radiation at different doses. Mechanical properties of irradiated jute fabrics and matrices based composites were found to increase significantly. Optimized jute fabrics were treated with starch solution of different concentrations for different soaking time and composite made of 0.5% (for UV) and 0.3% (for gamma) starch treated jute fabrics (5 min soaking time) showed the best mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of untreated and treated composites was also performed.
Aziz, S.H. and Ansel, M.P. ( 2004). The Effect of Alkalization and Fiber Alignment on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Kenaf and Hemp Bast Fiber Composites: Part1-Polyester Resin Matrix, Compos. Sci. Technol., 64: 1219-1230.
2.
Mannan, Kh. M. and Talukder, M.A.I. (1997). Characterization of Raw Delignified and Bleached Jute Fibers by Study of Absorption of Moisture and Some Mechanical Properties, Polymer, 38(10): 2493-2500.
3.
Bonfim, R.F.S. ( 1968). Fibras Sintéticas e o Futuro da Economia da Juta , 2nd edn, Vol. 43, Sudam, Brasilia, Brazil.
4.
Nassar, N.L. ( 1980). In: Capsularis, L. and C Olitorius, L. (eds), Bibliografia Data Jute Corchorus, Embrapa/ DID, Brasilia, Brazil.
Mannan, Kh. M. and Robbany, Z. (1996). Rotation of a Natural Cellulosic Fiber about its Fibre Axis due to Absorption of Moisture , Polymer, 37(20): 4639-4641.
7.
Harikumar, K.R. , Joseph, K. and Thomas, S. (1999). Jute Sack Cloth Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Mechanical and Sorption Studies, J. Reinf. Plast. Compos., 18(4): 346-372.
8.
Khan, M.A., Koop, C. and Hinrichsen, G. ( 2001). Effect of Vinyl and Silicon Monomer on Mechanical and Biodegradable Properties of Biodegradable Jute-Biopol Composite, J. Reinf. Plast. Compos., 20: 1414-1429.
9.
Mohanty, A.K. and Misra, M. (1995). Studies on Jute Composites a Literature Review, Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng., 34(5).
10.
Khan, M.A., Hassan, M.M. and Drzal, L.T. ( 2005). Effect of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA) on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Jute/Polycarbonate Composites, Composites, Part A, 36: 71-81.
11.
Mohanty, A.K. , Khan, M.A. and Hinrichsen , G. (2000). Surface Modification of Jute and its Influence on Performance of Biodegradable Jute Fabrics/Biopol Composites, Compos. Sci. Technol., 60: 1115-1124.
12.
Khan, M.A. and Hassan, M.M. ( 2006). Effect of γ Amono-silane on the Performance of Jute-Polycarbonate Composite, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 100(6): 4142-4151.
13.
Oldring, P. K. T. (ed.) (1991). Chemistry and Technology of UV and EB Formulation for Coatings, Inks and Paints, Vol. 1-5, SITA Technology, London .
14.
Gassan, J. and Gutowski, V.S. ( 2000). Effect of Corona Discharge and UV Treatment on the Properties of Jute Fibre Epoxy Composites, J. Compos. Sci. Technol., 60: 2857-2863.
15.
Khan, M.A., Haque, N., Kafi, A.A., Alam, M.N. and Abedin, M.Z. ( 2006). Jute Reinforced Polymer Composite by Gamma Radiation: Effect of Surface Treatment with UV Radiation, Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng., 45(50): 607-613.
16.
Ali, K.M.I. , Khan, M.A. and Ali , M.A. (1997). Study of Jute Materials with Urethane Acrylate by UV Curing, Radiat. Phys. Chem., 49(3): 383-388.
17.
Ramaraj, B. (2007). Crosslinked Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and Starch Composite Films: Study of their Physico-mechanical, Thermal, and Swelling Properties, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 103: 1127-1132.
18.
Ramaraj, B. (2007). Crosslinked Poly (vinyl alcohol) and Starch Composite Films II. Physico-mechanical, Thermal, and Swelling Properties, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 103: 909-916.
19.
Morsyleide, F., Rosa, B.-S., Chiou, S., Eliton, S. and Imam, H. (2009). Biodegradable Composites Based on Starch/EVOH/Glycerol Blends and Coconut Fibers, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 111: 612-618.
20.
Mathew, A.P. , Thielemans, W. and Dufresne, A. (2008). Mechanical Properties of Nano Composites from Sorbital Plasticized Starch and Tunicin Whiskers, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 109: 4065-4074.
21.
Cao, X. , Chen, Y., Chang , P.R., Stumborg, M. and Huneault, M.A. (2008). Green Composites Reinforced with Nano-crystals in Plasticized Starch, J.Appl . Poly. Sci. , 109: 3804-3810.
22.
Charlesby, A. (1958). Effects of Radiation on Materials, pp. 261-265, Reinhold Publishing Corp, New York.
23.
Dole, M., Williams, T.F. and Arvia, A.J. ( 1959). Proceedings of the Second International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Geneva, United Nations, New York, Vol. 29, pp. 171-172.
24.
Rowell, R.M. , Hen, J.S. and Rowell, J.S. ( 2000). Characterization and Factors Effecting Fiber Properties , In: Frollini, E.,Leao, A. L. L. and Mattoso, H. C. (eds), Natural Polymer and Agro Fiber Composites, pp. 115-124, Sao Carios, Brazil.
25.
Marcovich, N.F. , Ostrovsky, A.N., Aranguren, M.I. and Reboredo, M.M. ( 2000). Proceedings from the 3rd International Symposium on Natural Polymers and Composites-IS NaPOl Sao Pedro, SP, Brazil, pp. 14-17.
26.
Wunderlich, B. (1990). Thermal Analysis, Academic Press, Boston.
