Abstract
The mechanical and morphological properties of jute fibre reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) composites were studied as a function of fibre and compatibiliser content. A remarkable improvement in tensile strength, flexural strength and unnotched impact strength was attained with addition of 2% compatibiliser. With increasing fibre content, the tensile and flexural strength increased but impact strength declined because of the presence of too many fibre ends that could cause crack initiation. Scanning electron microscopy showed that better interaction and distribution of fibres in the matrix was achieved in the compatibilised system than the uncompatibilised one.
