Jute based all-cellulose composite laminates

Abstract

In this work, jute fabric reinforced all-cellulose composite laminates have been developed using a conventional hand lay-up method and compression moulding. Five layers of alkali-treated jute fabrics are impregnated with ionic liquid [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmimCl)]. The impregnated layers are stacked symmetrically maintaining warp and weft directions of fabric, and then heated under pressure in a compression moulding machine for surface-selective dissolution in ionic liquid with the aim to prepare a compact single composite laminate. A matrix phase is formed in-situ by regeneration of dissolved fraction of fibre via solvent exchange. FTIR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used to investigate solid-state chemistry and to measure crystallinity of jute in fabric and composite forms. The surface morphology and cross-section of all-cellulose composite laminates is observed by optical microscopy and SEM. It is found that the binding of matrix and reinforcement, final morphology and mechanical properties of prepared ACCs are strongly dependant on pressure, temperature and dissolution time during the preparation of ACCs.