Research on mechanics and acoustic properties of Jute fiber composite material

In this study, the loss of quality from the oxidative thermal decomposition of jute fiber was explored during the production of reinforced composite materials. Amino silicone oil was used to modify jute fiber, which was then subjected to thermogravimetric analysis. The modified fiber's thermal decomposition temperature was found to be 271 °C, enhancing the composite's thermal stability. The study also investigated how different jute fiber content affected the mechanical and sound absorption properties of composite materials. Results showed that jute fiber composites had better mechanical properties than pure polypropylene materials, and the average sound absorption coefficient of jute polypropylene composites increased with fiber content. Adding jute fiber to polypropylene effectively improved the sound absorption and noise reduction performance of the material. The average sound absorption coefficient of the composite material at a mass content of 20 wt% was 120 % higher than that of the polypropylene matrix material.

High-Performance Graphene-Based Natural Fiber Composites

Natural fiber composites are attracting significant interest due to their potential for replacing synthetic composites at lower cost with improved environmental sustainability. However, natural fiber composites suffer from poor mechanical and interfacial properties. Here, we report coating of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene flakes (G) onto natural jute fibers to improve mechanical and interfacial properties. The coating of graphene materials onto jute fibers enhanced interfacial shear strength by ∼236% and tensile strength by ∼96% more than untreated fibers by forming either bonding (GO) or mechanical interlocking (G) between fibers and graphene-based flakes. This could lead to manufacturing of high-performance and environmental friendly natural fiber composites that can potentially replace synthetic composites in numerous applications, such as the automotive industry, naval vessels, household products, and even in the aerospace industry.