Eco-composite: the effects of the jute fiber treatments on the mechanical and environmental performance of the composite materials

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

alves, c (Author) Other; dias, aps (Author) Other; diogo, ac (Author) Other; ferrao, pmc (Author) Other; luz, sm (Author) Other; silva, aj (Author) Other; reis, l (Author) Other; freitas, m (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Composite Materials

Vol. 45 No. 4

Pages: 573-589

ISSN: 0021-9983

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Materials engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-TMC

DOI: 10.1177/0021998310376111

Abstract (EN): In this study, untreated and treated jute fiber composites were investigated as candidates to replace glass fibers as reinforcement to produce structural composites with better environmental performance. The surface of the jute fibers was modified by drying and bleaching/drying treatments to improve the wetting behavior of the apolar polyester, improving the mechanical properties of the composites. The mechanical characterization of the composites was obtained according to the ASTM standards (D-3039/D-790) and dynamic mechanical analysis. The environmental characterization was obtained by life-cycle assessment method. The treatment characterization was obtained by horizontal attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Finally, jute composites were compared with glass composites and results show that the jute fiber treatments imply a significant increase of the mechanical properties of the composites without damaging their environmental performances.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17