The Investigations on the Physico-mechanical Properties of Jute Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) Composites
Mohammad Ismail
Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
Md. Ruhul Amin Foisal
Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh and Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh
Ajoy Kumer *
Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh
Omma Taslima Nasrin
Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
Muhammad Zakarul Islam
Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) is one of the most important matrices for polymer composite application. Jute fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) composites is the most desirable products for consumer and industrial uses and natural fibres as a reinforcing material that was fabricated by hand lay-up technique. Cobalt octoate was used as an accelerator at room temperature. The UPR jute mat composites can show different moulding pressure and duration of moulding in mechanical and thermal properties and with the increase of moulding load mechanical properties such as flexural strength, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), elongation is increased but with excessive moulding pressure the UPR comes out from the composite and increases the % of fiber content which causes reduction the values of mechanical properties. Water absorption was increased with time and the rate is more in the initial state. UTS remains unchanged up to 195 Minutes and then increases with the increase of pressing time of composite. Due to long-lasting pressure composite become more compact, UTS become higher. To optimize the moulding load and time of pressing shows that 180 KN pressure for 240 minutes gives the best mechanical and physical properties.
Keywords: Jute fiber, resin, composite, flexural strength, tensile strength and elongation