Properties of Jute and Sheep Wool Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Polypropylene Composites

Use of plant and animal-based biodegradable resources as reinforcement in polymeric composites has incontestable advantages compared to synthetic fiber composites-including low density, low cost, continuous supply, easy and safe handling and supports their potential across a wide range of applications. Hybrid fiber reinforced composites are generally prepared to enhance different properties as compared to single-fiber reinforced composites. In present research, sheep wool fiber and jute fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites were prepared. Their mechanical properties were examined first by varying the fiber and polypropylene ratio and then by varying wool and jute fiber ratio keeping the polypropylene quantity unchanged. Here, 5%, 10% and 15% of the fibers in a ratio of 1:1 were copulated with polypropylene in a hot press machine. For mechanical characterization, tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests were conducted. From these tests, it was observed that the composite with 15% fiber content had the best properties. For further enhancement, two separate samples with 1:3 and 3:1 fiber ratios and 85% polypropylene were prepared. Running the aforementioned tests, it was revealed that the sample with wool and jute fiber at 1:3 ratio had the best set of properties. (paper)