Effect of Hot-Alkali Treatment on the Structure Composition of Jute Fabrics and Mechanical Properties of Laminated Composites

In this study, jute fabrics/epoxy-laminated composites were fabricated via a simple and effective manual layering. Hot-alkali treatment was used to pretreat jute fabrics to improve their interfacial compatibility. The effects of hot-alkali treatment with five concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) on the composition, crystallinity and surface morphology of jute fibers, were analyzed with the aids of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) of laminated composites, and the morphology of the tensile fracture surface, were analyzed. The results indicated that the crystallinity index (CI) and crystallite size (CS) of the cellulose in jute fibers were improved, and there were three stages for CI and CS with the increase of alkali concentrations. Hot-alkali treatment improved the mechanical properties of laminated composites, especially for the 6% NaOH-treated jute fabric reinforced. The tensile strength, flexural strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus of 6% NaOH-treated fabrics reinforced composites were enhanced by 37.5%, 72.3%, 23.2% and 72.2%, respectively, as compared with those of untreated fabrics reinforced composites. The fiber pull-out and the gaps of the tensile fracture surface were reduced after hot-alkali treatment.