Effect of Hygrothermal Treatment on the Tensile Properties of Hot-Pressed Jute Fibre Composites

Abstract

The growing environment awareness demands the use of nature fibres as reinforcement materials in commercial. The natural fibres however are hydrophilic in nature and their composites undergo environmental degradation during service.
Hygrothermal conditioning on as received jute fabric at different temperatures of hotpress have been studied in the present investigation. These composites are usually subjected to various loading conditions. Therefore, an attempt has been made to study the tensile properties of the composites. Fractography studies were carried out to study the fracture surface under SEM. It is noticed that the major mode of failure is due to fibre pullout and matrix cracking. The result from the hygrothermal studies shows the decrease in strength values of the composites on prolong exposure to humid environment..