Long jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene composite: Effects of jute fiber bundle and glass fiber hybridization.

ABSTRACT Two types of long jute fiber pellet consisting of twisted-jute yarn (LFT-JF/PP) and untwisted-jute yarn (UT-JF/PP) pellets are used to prepare jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene (JF/PP) composites. The mechanical properties of both long fiber composites are compared with that of re-pelletized pellet (RP-JF/PP) of LFT-JF/PP pellet, which is re-compounded by extrusion compounding. High stiffness and high impact strength of JF/PP composites are as a result of using long fiber. However, the longer fiber bundle consequently affects the distribution of jute fiber. The incorporation of 10 wt % glass fibers is found to improve mechanical properties of JF/PP composites. Increasing mechanical properties of hybrid composites is dependent on the type of JF/PP pellets, which directly affect the fiber length and fiber orientation of glass fiber within hybrid composites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41819. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]