Analysis of electrical, thermal and compressive properties of alkali-treated jute fabric reinforced composites

The effect of alkali treatment on thermal, electrical and compressive behaviour of jute composite has been studied. The plain woven jute fabrics were manufactured using handloom. The manufactured fabrics were treated with alkali at the optimized treatment conditions of 5% NaOH for 4 h at 30℃ made into a composite of [0°] ₄ lay-up sequence by means of compression moulding technique using vinyl ester resin. The improvement in the crystallization of the alkali-treated jute fabric was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction technique. The composites were characterized for compression strength, thermal conductivity and electrical resistance properties. It is observed from the results that the alkali-treated jute composites showed increased compression strength, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of the composites. This may be due to the better adhesion of the fabric–matrix interface with the removal of lignin and hemicelluloses that impart hydrophobicity on the fabric.