Effect of reinforcement and chemical treatment of fiber on The Properties of jute-coir fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites

Present research investigates the mechanical properties of jute-coir fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene (PP) composite with fiber loading variation and observes the effect of chemical treatment of fiber on property enhancement of the composites. Composites were manufactured using hot press machine at four levels of fiber loading (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%). Fiber ratio’s were varied (jute:coir=1:1, 3:1 and 1:3) for 20 % fiber loaded composites. Both jute and coir fiber was treated using 5 % and 10 % NaOH solutions. Composites were also prepared using treated fiber with jute-coir fiber ratio of 3:1. Tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis were conducted for characterization of the composites. Tensile test of composite showed a decreasing trend of tensile strength and increasing trend of the Young’s modulus with increase in fiber loading. During flexural, impact and hardness tests, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength and hardness values were found to be increased with increase in fiber loading. All these properties enhanced with the enhancement of jute content except impact strength. 5 % NaOH treatment provided an improving trend of properties whereas, 10 % NaOH treatment showed the reverse one. The FTIR analysis of the composites indicated decrease of hemicelluloses and lignin content with alkali treatment.