Abstract

• This research work is mainly concerned with the preparation of composite from 5 % NaOH modified waste jute fiber with epoxy resin as binder and the study of their characteristics. Jute fiber (JF) and epoxy resin (E) were collected from Yangon Region and this research was done at Polymer Research Department, Department of Research & Innovation (DRI), Yangon. Composites were prepared by mixing 5 % NaOH modified waste jute fiber (120 g) with various amounts (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 % and 30 %) of epoxy resin (E) using cold compressing method at 2300 psi. The prepared composites were characterized by physicochemical and physicomechanical parameters such as modulus of rupture (MOR), thickness, density, water absorption, swelling thickness as well as hardness. From the results obtained, it was found that 5 % NaOH modified waste jute fiber (120 g) with 20 % epoxy resin (E), namely (JFE 4) composite was the best quality grade composite. It possesses 1248.20 psi modulus of rupture, 0.60 cm thickness, 1.2320 g cm-3 density, 14.18 % water absorption, 23.35 % swelling thickness, and 68 D hardness. JFE 4 composite based on physicomechanical properties, the composite showed to possess the highest modulus of rupture value indicating that this composite was the most significant and the best among all the composites. The FT IR study confirmed the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In addition, Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer (STA) confirmed that the sample was thermally stable till 200 ˚C on account of the high complex structure of lignin. The melting point of composite was round about 400 ˚C studied by Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer. The surface roughness value of JFE 4 composite was 900 nm studied by Atomic Force Microscopy. The present research on making composite from waste materials can contribute to the solution of the earth’s escalating environmental problems.