Effects of Plasma Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Jute Fibers and Their Composites with Polypropylene

Abstract

ABSTRACT：A jute fiber surface was modified with argon gas in a cylinder type RF plasma generator to enhance the interfacial bond strength and to optimize the plasma treatment condition. The plasma power, gas pressure, and treat time were varied to figure out any effect of those parameters on the morphology and mechanical strength of jute fibers, and the interfacial bond strength for a model composite with polypropylene resin. As the severity of plasma treatment was increased, the surface of jute fibers became rougher. Gas pressure was less effective in roughening of the surface compared with those of treat time and plasma power. Approximately 25% drop in tensile strength of jute fibers was observed for the parameters of treat time and plasma power, while little deterioration was found for gas pressure, with increasing the severity. Based on the interfacial shear strength (IFSS), the optimum plasma treatment condition was determined to be treat time of 30 s, plasma power of 40 W, and gas pressure of 30 mTorr. 요 약：계면접착력

Influence of Plasma Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Cellulose-based Fibres and Their Interfacial Interaction in Composite Systems

“…4 and 5) are in accordance with the conclusions following from the studies of Sood et al (2015), which state that the fibre roughness increases with the right treatment of the natural fibres. The results correspond to conclusions of Huh et al (2012), who also roughened the surface of natural fibres by the plasma treatment; and they state the optimal time is 30 s for jute fibres at 40 W. The plasma effect led to coarsening of the fibre morphology (Sinha and Panigrahi 2009). Another aspect of judging the influence of the plasma treatment of the fibres is evaluating the influence of the fibre treatment on the interfacial interaction with commonly used matrices, such as epoxy resin.…”

“…As shown in Table 1, sisal fibres did not reach the length of 50 mm needed for the evaluation of the tensile strength. These conclusions are not in accordance with Huh et al (2012), who observed decreased tensile strength of natural fibres (jute) at 30 to 120 s and 40 to 100 W. However, another type of the plasma reactor was used (cylinder 0 to 90 mTorr), and the decreased tensile strength values were not observed at 40 W and 30 s only. There was an insignificant increase in tensile strength compared with the untreated fibre.…”

“…Pizzi et al (2009) established that the surface of natural fibres was influenced by already short affecting of the plasma. Huh et al (2012) found the reduced tensile strength of fibres with increasing exposure time. A higher discharge power was chosen for a quick but intensive treatment of the fibre surface.…”

“…The jute surface treatment increased the tensile strength, flexural strength, and a tensile modulus of the composite by 20%. However, the plasma treatment of natural fibres decreases their tensile characteristics (Huh et al 2012). The roughening of the surface occurs simultaneously, which influences the interfacial interactions with polymers.…”

Plasma Treatment in Textile Industry

“…Moreover, plasma polymerization leads to a bigger increase (>20%) in the flexural strength than untreated fibre composites . Another study on low‐pressure argon RF plasma modification of jute fibre surface showed approximately a 25% drop in tensile strength of jute fibres with little deterioration for high gas pressures . Jute fabric was also treated under atmospheric plasma using various gases.…”