Development and ballistic impact study on environment friendly sustainable jute reinforced carbon black/lignin-based elastomeric flexible composites

Abstract

This study compares the behaviour of jute/elastomer bio-composites based on lignin and carbon black under high-velocity impact using experimental methods. Compared to carbon black, SEM data showed that lignin was more evenly distributed across the yarns. The space between the threads was filled by the good interaction of lignin and rubber. Additionally, the findings of the tensile and dynamic compression tests demonstrate that adding lignin to a matrix enhances the tensile strength of rubber samples and composites. On single-layer and three-layer composites made of lignin and carbon black, experimental tests were conducted utilizing a gas gun apparatus with a flat projectile travelling between 100 and 180 m/s. The damage behaviour of the proposed composites is analyzed. The findings demonstrate that the composites' energy absorption and ballistic velocity have enhanced due to the jute-woven fabric cover and the diluted rubber matrix. The results reveal that single and three-layer lignin-based composites exhibit better ballistic limits with an increase of 12.5% and 23.8% over composites based on single and three-layer carbon black composites. Lignin-based composites outperform carbon black composites in terms of energy absorption with single and three-layered lignin-based composites absorbing 23.5% and 25.86% more energy compared to single and three-layered carbon black-based composites. Additionally, the analysis of energy absorption at the ballistic limit for single-layer and three-layer lignin-based composites reveals an increase of 26.56% and 53.35%, respectively, compared to carbon black-based composites.