Effect of surface modification of jute fiber on the mechanical properties and durability of jute fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

In this article, the effect of various surface modifications on the properties and durability of jute fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (JFRECs) was studied. Jute fiber was surface modified to improve its compatibility with the hydrophobic epoxy matrix. The surface modifications investigated include alkali treatment, silane treatment, and the combined effect of alkali and silane treatments. JFRECs were prepared by vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) process. The surface topography of the untreated and modified fibers was examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties, such as flexural properties and interfacial shear strength (IFSS), and thermomechanical properties, such as dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the composites of untreated and modified fibers were determined. The durability studies such as water uptake as well as the effect of moisture on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the untreated and combined chemically treated fiber composites were examined. It was found that the combined modification provided better mechanical and thermal properties of composites in comparison with untreated composite due to strong fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion. The rate of water absorption for chemically treated fiber composite was found to be lesser than the untreated fiber composite. There was a significant drop in the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the composites after exposure to moisture. This could be due to the fiber degradation and de-bonding at the interface during the immersion of the composite samples in water. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2519–E2528, 2018.