Propriedades mecânicas de compósitos poliéster/juta: efeitos de tratamentos superficiais.

Abstract

In this work the mechanical properties of polyester/jute cloth composites were investigated as a function of fiber surface treatments. Initially the effects of jute content for treated and untreated fibers on the composite's mechanical properties was evaluated. The treatments employed were: isocianate, urethane, poh/(vinyl acetate) and maleic anliidride. The effects of each of these treatments on the composite's mechanical properties were analysed and the best type and treatment content determinated. The effect of two kinds of fiber pre-washing (NaOH and neutral detergent solutions) as a means to increase fiber wettability and therefore the composite's mechanical properties was also investigated for untreated as well as fibers which, afterwards, were treated with the four kinds of agents previously mentionated. The mechanical properties of mixed matrix (polyester/isocianate and polyester/urethane) composites reinforced with jute cloth were also determinated. The surface treatments employed minimized this effect; mechanical properties increased with fiber content and the best results were obtained with isocianate or urethane fiber surface treatment at 10% v/w content. Pre-washing with detergent did promote a slight increase on mechanical properties while that with NaOH solution was not succesful. Best mechanical properties were obtained with the mixed polyester/isocianate or polyester/urethane matrix system, which the most pro missing of the system investigated.