Journal of Chemical Engineering, IEB

Vol. ChE 27,No. 2, December, 2012

Thermal and Mechanical properties of epoxy-jute fiber composite

H. Ahmad, M. A. Islam, M. F. Uddin
Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science (CEP), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology,
Sylhet-3114. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
Chopped jute fiber-epoxy composites with varying fiber length (2-12 mm) and mass fraction (0.05-0.35) had been
prepared by a heat press unit. The cross-linked product was characterized in terms of specific gravity, thermal
conductivity, tensile strength, Young modulus and elongation at break. The transverse thermal conductivities for
randomly oriented fibers in the composite were investigated by Lees and Charlton’s method. The tensile strength,
Young modulus and elongation at break were investigated by a Universal Tensile Tester. With an increase in the fiber
content (irrespective of the fiber length), the thermal conductivity of the composite decreases; the decreasing rate being
highest for the fiber length of 2 mm followed by that for the fiber length of 6 and 12 mm. The decreasing rate of the
thermal conductivity of the jute-epoxy composite is comparatively higher to that reported in literature for acrylic
polymer hemp fiber composite. The tensile strength also decreases with the increase of the fiber content in the
composite. The fiber length does not show to have significant effect on the tensile strength of the composite; the
variation in strength being masked within experimental error. The Young modulus increases with the increase of fiber
content within elastic limit; showing the highest values for the fiber length of 6 mm followed by those for the fiber
length of 2 mm and 12 mm. The elongation at break shows slightly increasing trend up to 15% fiber content, but
beyond that it decreases drastically. The specific gravity decreases with the increase in the fiber content and thus the
recalculated specific tensile strength is found to keep at a stable level of 36MPa up to the fiber content of 20%, and
beyond that the specific tensile strength decreases with the increase in the fiber content. It is concluded that jute fiber-
epoxy composite could be used as a good heat-insulating material. Further investigation is recommended on the
improvement of the thermal insulation keeping the mechanical properties unchanged or even improved. The TGA study
is also required to ascertain the field of application of the material.

1. INTRODUCTION others properties such as thermal and electrical

properties, sound and vibration dissipation properties,
Various products are produced from polymer materials. sorption and permeation of gas and vapors, stability
The properties of these materials can be tailored with towards mechanical, electrical and thermal shocks etc
the incorporation of fillers, fibers and other additives. In are equally important and deserve proper attention.
the last decades, intensive research has been conducted Scientific investigation on these properties of the
on the improvement of the natural fiber reinforced NFRPCs is still limited. In an effort to contribute in
polymer composites (NFRPC). As a result, polymer these aspects, researches on the thermal properties of
composites have been widening their range of NFRPCs have been initiated in the laboratory of
application in various fields. Nowadays, applications of material science at the Department of CEP.
NFRPCs can be found in housing construction material,
industrial objects, storage devices, furniture, electric Investigations on the thermal properties of NFRPCs are
devices, thermal insulations and automotive parts [1]. scarce [8-9]. Behzad and Sain [9] reported that the
Rapid growth of NFRPC technology is attributed thermal conductivity of hemp fiber- acrylic polymer
mainly to the low cost of the fiber and the ecological composite in the transverse direction decreased as the
benefits. Besides that, the natural fibers have some other volume fraction of fibers increased. On the other hand
advantages over synthetic reinforcing fibers such as for in-plane direction, the thermal conductivity of
biodegradability, renewability, availability in oriented composites enhanced with increasing the
abundance, low specific gravity, non-abrasiveness and volume fraction of fiber. To validate the experimental
ease of surface modification. results, the heating tests for the thermal conductivity
measurements were simulated by a finite element model
Among the natural fibers, most studied as the using the thermal conductivity values obtained from the
reinforcing ingredient in polymer composites are flax , experiments. The predicted temperatures showed close
hemp , jute, sisal, kenaf, coir, kapok, banana, henequen, agreement with the measured ones. Mangal et al. [10]
oil palm, bamboo, wheat and waste silk fibers [2-6]. also observed that the increasing the pineapple leaf fiber
Most of the studies are concerned with the improvement content in the matrix decreased the thermal conductivity
of the tensile properties (tensile strength, modulus of and thermal diffusivity of the composite. Osugi et al. [8]
elasticity and elongation at break) of the composites [7]. studied the Manila hemp fiber reinforced poly lactic
As the field of application of the composites widens, acid and epoxy resin composite and also confirmed that

*
Corresponding Author: H. Ahmad 77
E-mail: [email protected]
the thermal conductivity of the composite decreased such as refrigerated containers, building panels, fire
with increasing fiber content. walls and doors.

Sweeting et al. [11] developed a new experimental The purpose of the present work was to prepare epoxy-
method to determine the in-plane and though-thickness jute composite with, and to study the effect of fiber
thermal conductivities of polymer matrix composites. length and mass fraction on the thermal conductivity and
The transient temperature gradient in the given direction tensile properties of the composite. It is found that the
was recorded using thermocouples and the result was thermal conductivity decreases, but the tensile strength
processed numerically by an inverse approach to and the modulus of elasticity increase with the increase
determine the directional thermal conductivity. The in the fiber content in the composition. The fiber length
validation of the method was conducted using does not have significant effect on the tensile properties,
composites with known thermal properties, and but slightly affect the thermal conductivity. This is a
excellent correlation was found between the known and mere initiation of systematic research on the less studied
determined thermal conductivities. Agrawal et al. [12] polymer-fiber composite-properties such as thermal,
studied the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity electrical and vibration-damping parallel to improving
of oil-palm-fiber-reinforced untreated and differently the biodegradability, mechanical strength and specific
treated composites using transient plane source gravity. The first results in this direction are stimulating
technique at room temperature. They concluded that all for further research.
the silane and alkali treatments of the fibers increased
the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the 2. EXPERIMENTAL
composites in comparison with the acetylated
composite. Kalaprasad et al. [13] analyzed and 2.1 Material
presented the thermal conductivity and thermal Jute fiber was used as a reinforcing phase and the epoxy
diffusivity of sisal-, glass-, and sisal-glass hybrid fiber resin (polycondensation product of epichlorohydrin with
reinforced polyethylene composites at high bis-phenol A) was used as a matrix phase. Both were
temperatures and with different fiber orientations. The collected from local market. Tetraethylenetriamine was
difference between the thermal conductivity properties used as the hardener. Wax used as a mould releasing
in parallel and perpendicular directions with respect to agent.
fiber length was the highest for sisal-fiber reinforced
polyethylene as a result of the anisotropic nature of the 2.2 Methods
fiber.
2.2.1 Composite preparation: Untreated jute fibers
were chopped into average lengths of 2mm, 6mm and
12mm. For all types of fiber-length, the composites
Among the natural fibers, jute is one of the most
were prepared with 5- 35 wt% of fiber. The chopped
important plant based fibers for composite materials due
jute fibers were dried at 1000C for 1hr to remove
to its moderate specific strength, stiffness, low density,
moisture. Different proportion of untreated chopped jute
less abrasive behavior to the processing equipment,
fibers of different length-type was mixed with the resin
good dimensional stability and harmlessness. It is
composition with epoxy-hardener ratio of 10:1. For
abundant in Bangladesh and the country has the
each length-type seven compositions were prepared
potentiality to increase its production, if the market
with the jute fiber content in the range of 5-35 wt%. The
demands that. In the past few years several studies have
mixture was homogenized with manual stirring. Then
been done on the potential use of jute fiber as
the mixture was placed in a mold.
reinforcing materials in a number of polymers such as
Three different types of mold were used for the
polyester , polypropylene, polyethylene and natural
preparation of composite samples, which were with the
rubber . Some investigations were conducted on the jute
dimensions of 120×120×2 mm3, 120×120×6 mm3 and
fiber reinforced epoxy composites, but they are also
120×120×6 mm3.
related basically to mechanical properties of the
Then the mold was placed on a hydraulic press unit
composite [14-17].
(CARVER, Model-3853-0, S/N-12000-944, USA) at
room temperature. A moderate pressure (45psi) pressure
Epoxy resin is well-known for its excellent adhesion
was applied to prevent the air entrapped in the liquid
capability to materials of different nature including fiber
composition. The final composite was released from the
materials. It has low shrinkage upon curing, good
press unit after 24 hours. Then it was placed in an oven
chemical resistance. Epoxies have superior mechanical
at 1000C for 1 hr for curing and the cured samples are
and electrical properties, thermal insulation and good
stored in polyethylene bags to keep them humid-free.
performance at elevated temperatures. Thus,
investigations into the thermal properties of the jute 2.2.2 Specimen for tensile test: For the
fiber reinforced epoxy composite parallel to the study of measurement of tensile properties, the test specimens
the tensile property bear immense importance in were cut from the hardened composite yielding them the
connection with the potential application of the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with the length 60-
composite as thermal insulator in various applications 80mm, width 17-27mm and thickness 2-6mm.

78
2.2.3 Specimen for conductivity tests: For 2.3.2 Measurement of tensile properties: The
transverse thermal conductivity measurements, the test tensile strength and the elongation at break were
specimens were cut from the hardened composite measured by a tensile testing instrument (EPOCH,
yielding them the form of dense-circular wheels with Model-LSZ-52, and Range: 0-500 kg) at a deformation
the diameter of 51mm and average thickness of 2mm, rate of 14.6 mm/min. Three test specimens from every
4mm and 6mm. composition were tested and the mean value was
recorded. The average modulus of elasticity is
2.3 Experimental methods calculated from the stress-strain curve in strain range of
0-0.18.
2.3.1 Measurement of thermal conductivity: 2.3.3 Measurement of specific gravity (bulk):
Thermal conductivity was measured by Lees and The specific gravity (bulk) b of the composite is
Charlton’s apparatus. The test specimen is placed defined as the ratio of the bulk density bc of the
between two metallic discs. The upper disc is heated by composite to that of water w. For the purpose,
electricity and this heat is transferred to lower disc specimens were cut in rectangular shape and weighed.
through test specimen by conduction mechanism. The The geometric dimensions (length L, breadth b and
lower disc is open to air and loses heat by convection width w) were also measured. The value of b is
and radiation mechanism. The temperature of the upper calculated by the following formula:
and the lower disc (denoted as TU and TL respectively)
gradually increases until a steady state is attained, and  b  bc /  w  m /(Lbw w ) (2)
the corresponding temperature of the upper and lower Where, m is the mass of the rectangular specimen.
disc (denoted as TUs and TLs respectively) is recorded.
At this condition the heat flux qcon passing through the
test specimen by conduction is equal to the rate of heat-
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
loss qcv,r by the lower disc by convection and radiation
to the surrounding air. It is assumed that the thermal 3.1 Effect of composition on the thermal
conductivity of the metal discs are much higher than conductivity
that of the sample such that the resistance to thermal
energy flux lies solely depends on the sample. Thus 3.1.1 Determination of thermal conductivity:
there is no temperature gradient in the discs at steady The thermal conductivity was measured through
state and the temperature of the discs is the same as that transverse direction. The mode of temperature increase
of the sample-surfaces they are in contact with. Under at the two faces of the circular composite specimen is
such condition, the thermal conductivity K (W/m.K) is presented in Fig3.1. The data for other specimens are
calculated from the heat balance equation (Eq. 1). Thus, similar (not shown for brevity).
100
q q  (1)
con cv, r
Temperature,T OC

80
KA(T  T )/l  ms( dT /dt)
Us Ls L T T 60
L Ls
40
Hot plate
Where K (W/m.K) is the thermal conductivity, A (m2) Cold plate
and l (m) are respectively the cross section area and the 20
thickness of the sample, and m (kg) and s (J/kg. C) are
respectively. 0
500 100
Time, t min
The rate of cooling (heat loss) qcv,r by the lower disc at
TL = TLs is determined in a separate experiment. The Fig.3.1: Temperature variation versus time on the upper
temperature of the lower disc TL is raised gradually to and lower surface of a composite sample with fiber
100C above from the recorded steady state temperature content 5-35wt% and average fiber length 2mm, 6mm
TLs through another heating arrangement at the upper and 12mm.
disc and the heating process is interrupted by leaving
the system cool down naturally. The falling of
temperature of the lower disc TL is recorded until the As seen from the Figure, the temperature of both the
temperature falls down by about 100C below TLs. Then a surfaces of the sample gradually increases until attains a
temperature TL vs time t curve is plotted. The tangent on steady state value. As expected, upper surface being
the curve at TL= TLs is drawn. The slope of the curve close to the heating source initially the temperature at
dTL/dt at TL= TLs is put in Eq. (1) to calculate the value this surface increases much faster than that at the lower
of K. For details about the method, the readers are surface. At steady state (which corresponds to 80C TUs
referred to [18] and 60C TLs for the upper and lower surfaces of the
sample), there is no accumulation of heat in any part of

79
the sample, and the heat entering at the upper surface 1.8 2mm fiber
transfers through the whole thickness to the lower 1.6 6mm fiber

Thermal conductivity K,
surface of the sample, which is in contact with lower 1.4 12mm fiber
metal disc. From this disc, the heat leaves the system
1.2
through convection and radiation. For determining the

W/mK
1
heat loss from the lower surface at 60 C by convection
and radiation, the fall of temperature of the lower disc 0.8
due to heat loss by convection and radiation has been 0.6
monitored in a separate experiment (Figure 3.2). 0.4
80 0.2
70 temperature 0
Temperature, T 0C

60 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

50 Fiber content X, (%wt) .
40
30 Fig. 3.3: Thermal conductivity vs. fiber content (wt
20 %) for 12mm, 6mm and 2mm fiber length
10
Such trend of decrease in conductivity is reported by
0
T.Behzad, Sain [9] for hemp fiber- reinforced acrylic
0 5 10 15 20 polymer composite, in which the conductivity is
Time, t min reduced by 42.9 % for the fiber content of 60 %(vol). In
this study, the reduction in the conductivity of the jute
Fig.3.2. Temperature-fall pattern of the lower metal disc
fiber-eopxy composite is 64.7% for fiber content of
due to convection and radiation
60% (vol) (recalculated from weight % for
comparison).
The slope of the tangent drawn at 60C to the curve in
Figure 3.2 gives the rate of temperature fall (dT L/dt) at 3.2 Effect of fiber length and content on
this temperature, which multiplied ms of the disc gives, mechanical properties
the rate of heat-loss by this disc by convection and
radiation at this temperature. This value of the rate of 3.2.1. Tensile strength: The tensile strength has been
temperature is put in the Eq. (1) to calculate the plotted in Figure 3.4 as a function of fiber content for
conductivity of the sample. various fiber-lengths. As seen from the figure, the
tensile strength decreases with the increase in the fiber
The thermal conductivity of the composite is presented content. Unlike the effect on the thermal conductivity,
in figure 3.3 as a function of fiber content for varying the fiber-length merely has any significant effect on the
fiber length. tensile strength observed with the range of
experimentation.
3.1.2 Comparison among 2mm, 6mm and Such large deterioration-rate of the strength is bit
12mm chopped jute fiber reinforced epoxy unexpected, as the epoxy resin has got good adhesion to
composite: As seen from the Figurw 3.3 the thermal most of the materials, but still the stress-failure could be
conductivity decreases with an increase in the fiber attributed to the inadequate adhesion due to the high
content. Parallel to the fiber material itself, the air viscosity of the resin, which results in poor wetting of
entrapped in the voids of the fiber contributes to the the fine fibers. With the increase in the fiber content,
insulation of the material. The thermal conductivity of fiber-elements are aggregated together to prevent the
the air is 0.026 [W/(m.K)] at 25 0 C. It has an excellent access of the resin to the inter-fiber space and
heat insulation effect. The weight percent of the air interrupting the continuity of the matrix structure. Some
increases with increasing fiber content. Therefore, the air particles might have been entrapped in the voids and
thermal conductivity decreases with increasing fiber adsorbed to the surface of the fiber, which also
content [3]. The decreasing trend is the highest for the contribute to the proper contact between the resin and
fiber length of 2 mm. it appears that although the fibers the fiber. Consequently, the increase in fiber content
have got random distribution, the aspect ratio leads to the decrease in strength and the material fails
(diameter/length) determines, to some extent, the mode mainly at the fiber-matrix interface. Beckermann et al.
of distribution and thus affects the thermal conductivity [18] also reported that improper adhesion hindered
of the composite. considerable increment of tensile strength.
Wollerdorfer and Bader [19] also concluded that the
incorporation of high fiber content was limited by the
incompatibility issue.

80
 60 But still the rate of strength deterioration is
2mm fiber length comparatively low up to 20 wt% fiber content ( 15%
Tensile strength σ, MPa

50 6mm fiber length reduction of strength for a fiber content of 20 wt %).

12mm fiber length For fiber content higher than 20 wt%, the specific
40 strength decreases at a much higher rate. Obviously, the
non-adhesion issue is very acute and the measures
30 should be taken to ensure good adhesion.
20
3.2.2. Young modulus: Young modulus is presented
10 in Figure 3.6 as a function of fiber content. As the
Figure shows, the Young modulus increases as the fiber
0 content increases. Without further investigations, it is
0 10 20 30 40 difficult to find explanation about why the modulus
increment is the highest for the fiber length of 6mm
Fiber content X, (wt%) followed successively by that for the fiber length of 2 &
Fig. 3.4: Tensile strength of different length type fiber 12 mm violating any form of sequence of length, but the
respect with fiber content general indication is clear that the modulus increases
with fiber content. At the first glance, the Young
The bulk density of the composite decreases as the fiber modulus data contradicts the usual perception that as the
content in the composition increases. To verify to what tensile strength decreases with the increase in fiber
extent, the tensile strength-deterioration is compensated content, the Young modulus would follow similar trend.
by the lightness of the material, the specific tensile This did not happen. The reason may be that the tensile
strength, sp defined as the tensile strength y for unit strength is measured at high stress-strain range, where
specific gravity (bulk) i.e the material fails at the fiber-matrix interface. On the
sp =y/b is calculated and presented also in Figure 3.5 other hand, the Young modulus is measured at low
along with the bulk density. stress-strain range, where the fiber-matrix bond still
withstands the applied stress and hence the modulus
shows positive increment.

160 2mm fiber length

140 6mm fiber length
Young modulus, MPa

12mm fiber length

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
10 0 20 30 40
Fiber content X, (%wt)
Fig. 3.6: Young modulus E vs. fiber content x with varying
fiber length
3.2.3. Elongation at break, b: Figure 3.7 indicates
Fig. 3.5: Effect of fiber content on the bulk density and that the elongation at break, b shows that for fiber
the specific tensile strength of the composite content below 10 wt%, the elongation at break does not
vary much from that of pure hardened epoxy (even a
The bulk density decreases almost linearly with the slight increasing trend is observed), but beyond 10wt%
fiber content. The effect of fiber length, if exists at all, fiber content, the parameter decreases with the increase
is masked within experimental errors. It is obvious that in fiber content. From the general knowledge in
with the incorporation of the fiber in the composition, polymer science, it is expected that as the tensile
the material has become relatively lighter. strength decreases with an increase in the fiber content,
the deformation property would show increasing trend.
The specific tensile strength of the composite also It rather is in agreement with the modulus of elasticity,
decreases with the increase in the fiber content. which increases with the increase in the fiber content i.e
Obviously the tensile strength deterioration is not the material has become brittle. Obviously, the fiber-
compensated by the decrease in the material density. matrix adhesion is to be improved to achieve better
results.

81
 25 2mm fiber length [3] K.John, S.Venkata Naidu, J. Rein. Plast. Comp.
6mm fiber length 26(4) (2007) 373–376.
% Elongation at break

20 12mm fiber length [4] H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, S. Hanida, C. W. Kang, N.A.

Nikfuaad, J. Rein. Plast. Comp. 26(2) (2007)
15 203–218.
[5] P.Noorunnisha Khanam, M. Mohan Reddy, K.
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varying fiber length [8] R. Osugi, H. Takagi, K. Liu, and Y. Gennai (2009),
Proceedings of the Asian Pacific Conference for
Materials and Mechanics at Yokohama, Japan,
4. CONCLUSION
November 13-16, 2009, pp. a163_1- a163_3
From the experimental studies, it becomes quite evident [9] T .Behzad., Sain. M(2007) , Published online in
that the epoxy-jute would provide better thermal Wiley Inter Science.
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[11] R.D. Sweeting and X.L. Liu, Compos. A: Appl.
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Sci. Manuf., 35, 933 (2004).
adhesion between the fiber and matrix in order to [12] R. Agrawal, N.S. Saxena, M.S. Sreekala, and S.
prevent the deterioration of the tensile properties. Thomas, J. Polym. Sci.: Part B: Polym. Phys., 38,
From environmental viewpoint, this investigation is 916 (2000).
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much more energy consuming than that of the natural Technol., 60, 2967 (2000).
[14] M. Jawaid, H.P.S. Abdul Khalil, Azman Hassan,
fiber [21]. From socio-economical viewpoint,
Rudi Dungani, A. Hadiyane, Composites Part B:
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[16] Jochen Gassan, Voytek S Gutowski ,Original
alleviation program of the developing countries. Thus,
Research Article Composites Science and
more and more investigations are recommended for Technology, Volume 60, Issue 15, November
extending the application of natural fiber incorporated 2000, Pages 2857-2863
polymer composites for the thermo-, sound- and [17] M. Jawaid, H.P.S. Abdul Khalil, A. Abu Bakar ,
electricity insulating and vibration-dissipitating Original Research Article
material. The TGA study is also required to ascertain Materials Science and Engineering: A, Volume
528, Issue 15, 15 June 2011, Pages 5190-5195
the field of application of the material.
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