Influence of Surface Treatment and Molding Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Jute/PLA-Based Green Composites

In the present study, the main focus is to increase the interfacial bonding between jute fiber with polylactic acid (PLA) with the help of surface modifications of jute fiber using alkali, potassium permanganate, and potassium dichromate treatments. FTIR spectroscopy result confirms the removal of hemicellulose layer which results in an increase in adhesion of jute fiber with polylactic acid. Jute/PLA composites are prepared using hot compression molding process using treated jute fibers and PLA matrix. This study also exposes the effect on the mechanical properties of developed composites of molding temperatures ranging from 160 to 180 °C. Alkali treatments resulted in an increase of 56.1% and 51%, respectively, in the tensile and flexural strength of jute/PLA composites It is so observed that for alkali-treated jute/PLA composite with 170 °C molding temperature, maximum tensile and flexural strength were recorded.