Characterization and analyses of degradable composites made with needle-punched jute nonwoven and polylactic acid (PLA) membrane

Fiber reinforced composite materials can be seen everywhere in our daily life. The development speed of thermoplastic composites has gradually surpassed that of thermosetting materials because of their low density, recyclability and high production efficiency. Polylactic acid (PLA) and jute fibers are two of the most attractive research pursuits in the field of biodegradable materials nowadays. In this work, PLA films and jute nonwovens were made firstly, then biodegradable composite materials were produced combining PLA as the matrix with jute fiber as reinforcement using the film-stacking method. The mechanical properties of the prepared biodegradable materials were characterized by tensile testing and 3-point bending testing. The biodegradable composite materials have great potential applications in various fields with advantages of low cost, easy manufacture, low density and excellent mechanical properties.