Use of jute needle-punched nonwoven fabric as reinforcement in composite

Abstract

The effect of punch density, depth of needle penetration, fibre orientation and area density of jute needle-punched nonwoven fabric, for use as reinforcing material in jute-reinforced plastic (JRP) composite, has been studied and the composite properties, such as tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, and impact strength optimized. Composites have been prepared using hand lay-up technique with polyester resin. The fabric made with optimized parameters has been chemically treated and the mechanical properties of its composite evaluated. It is observed that the cross-laid nonwoven produces better composite, considering its mechanical properties in the machine and cross directions, compared to parallel-laid nonwoven. Jute nonwoven with 10 mm depth of needle penetration, 250 punches/cm² punch density and 700 g/m² area density shows optimum mechanical properties of the composite. On comparing the properties of nonwoven composite with those of the composite made out of woven jute fabric, it is observed that the nonwoven fabric shows better properties than woven fabric. Chemical treatment further improves the properties. Bleaching of nonwoven fabric with H₂O₂ shows optimum properties among the different chemical treatments applied to the fabric.