Author : T Pavan Kumar, C Udaya Kiran and A Chennakesava Reddy

In the current report, study has been conducted on the preparation and characterization of jute/basalt reinforced
composites as a novel polymer matrix. The material is prepared by hand layup technique by considering the
orthogonal L27 array, with 3 stages and 4 process parameters. Mechanical properties such as tensile and bending are determined and the optimal structure is evaluated by the Taguchi process. To analyze the impact of the fibre sheet, a detailed physio-chemical, thermal, morphological and mechanical characterization of the jute/basalt reinforced composite material is performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential calorimetry scanning (DSC) are characterized. FTIR analysis is used to identify additives after extraction from a polymer matrix and contamination on or in a material. In order to know the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a sample, DSC analysis is carried out and reference is determined as a function of temperature. Similarly, DSC analysis provides information regarding Transition temperatures, glass transitions, Polymorphic transformation. The microstructural properties of the fibres appeared significantly dependent upon the relative blend ratio. DSC revealed that good interaction/miscibility existed between the two polymers. Tensile strength characterization showed that the value increased over one order of magnitude with the addition of PU in the polymer matrix, attributed to the formation of inter-fibre bonds.

Keywords: Mechanical properties, DSC, FTIR, SEM

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.11, No.1 (Jan/Feb 2021)