EFFECT OF SURFACE TREATMENT ON MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF JUTE FIBER-REINFORCED POLYOPROPYLENE COMPOSITE

摘要

In the recent years, considerable research and development have been expanded in natural fibers as reinforcement in thermoplastic resinous matrix. The various advantages of natural fibers over manmade fibers are low cost, low density, competitive specific mechanical properties, reduced energy consumption, and biodegradability. Natural fibers are usually made of cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin and pectin with a small quantity of water soluble materials. However, the one of primary disadvantage is poor interfacial adhesion and dispersion in olefinic thermoplastic matrix materials due to hydrophilic character of cellulose.