Investigation of the Physico-Chemical Absorption Characterizations of Jute Polymer Clay Nanocomposites as a Function of Chemical Treatments

Abstract

In this study, jute polyethylene clay nanocomposites were developed using hot press technique. The hydrophilic nature of fiber and nanoclay exhibited poor interfacial interaction to hydrophobic polymer matrix. In order to enhance the interfacial interaction among fiber, polymer, and nanofillers, the chemically treated jute (with benzenediazonium salt, propionic anhydride, and 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxy silane) and organically modified nanoclay were used for the manufacturing of nanocomposites in this study. The effect of chemical treatments and nanoclay addition on the improvement of absorption characterizations of prepared nanocomposites against water and few chemical reagents have been investigated. It has been observed that the treated jute composites showed higher improvement in absorption properties than raw jute composite and silane treated jute composite found highest value. In addition, nanoclay filled composites showed higher improvement than composite without nanoclay and MMT-1.31PS nanoclay loaded nanocomposite exhibited highest improvement among five types of MMT nanoclay used in this work. The fabricated nanocomposites were resistant to all chemicals used except carbon tetrachloride.