Improvement on the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites by different surface treatments

The interfacial compatibility possessed critical effect on the performance of jute fiber-reinforced composites. In order to improve the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites, jute fibers were treated by alkali treatment, ethylenediamine/alkali treatment and acid/alkali treatment. Through analysis by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, surface energy measurement, and tensile strength test, the acid/alkali treatment was deemed as the most efficient method for improving the surface properties of jute fibers among three kinds of surface treatments. The interfacial compatibility of treated fiber-reinforced composites was enhanced significantly, which attributed to the improvement of surface properties of jute fibers. Due to the acidic hydrolysis of acid treatment, the surface energy of acid/alkali treated fibers was increased by 45.58% compared with the control fibers. The tensile and bending strength of acid/alkali treated fiber-reinforced composites were enhanced by 34.80% and 22.53%, respectively. Therefore, the acid/alkali treatment was potential and competitive surface treatment to enhance the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber-reinforced composites.