Studies on the Development of Environment Friendly Diversified Jute Products by Chemically Modified Jute Fiber Blended with Cotton

Abstract

Environment issues are major concern in the present-day. Natural fiber-based products are being cherished globally for the pollution free environment. Jute and cotton are the most affordable natural fibers in the existence and these fibers are broadly used for the application of numerous types of environment friendly products for sustainable development. It may be suitable replacement of synthetic materials. Jute cotton blended fabrics were prepared and their properties were measured as well as blended fabrics were also utilized as reinforcing materials for fabricating composite with unsaturated polyester resin. Different ratios of jute, cotton and sheep wool were used for the yarn, fabric’s as well as reinforce material preparation. In the present study, 60% chemically modified jute fiber and 40% cotton blended 12s count yarn was prepared through cotton spinning system. Similarly,50% jute &50% cotton blended and 30% sheep wool, 30% jute and 40% cotton blended yarn were prepared; 50% jute & 50% cotton blended fabric as well as reinforced material was also prepared. Physical, mechanical and degradation (soil, water & atmosphere) properties were carried out. Optimized fabrics (50% jute + 50% cotton) were used for the further process. Various percentages of sodium silicate were applied to the fabrics for property improvement. The highest value of mechanical property was obtained at 2% sodium silicate treated composites. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM) and impact strength (IS) were increased by 48%, 10% and 20% respectively, relative to untreated composites. Dye was also applied with fabrics to amplify the composite properties and 6% dye treated composites presented the best results. Different ratios of jute cotton blended fabrics were prepared through loom machine and degradability were tested in soil, water and atmosphere. Rapid degradation was found in soil medium than water & air medium Nano fibers were synthesized from jute faiber and incorporated with UPR to enhance the mechanical properties and revealed the best result at 0.2% nano fiber based-composites. Dye and nano fiber reinforced composites were also analyzed by the previously mentioned technique. The fabricated samples were irradiated by different gamma radiation doses and 5 KGy gamma dose revealed the best results for the all types of composites. Water uptake test at different ratios jute cotton blended color reinforced UPR based composite exhibited the lowest water absorption. Further the prepared composites were characterized by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).