Mechanical Properties of Woven Mat Jute/Epoxy Composites

Natural fibers combine technological, economic and ecological aspects. However, a major restriction on their successful use in long term composite applications is their high moisture absorption and poor dimensional stability. This paper is aimed at establishing a link between the mats grammage and the mechanical properties of the epoxy/jute fibers laminates. Composites reinforced by coarse, medium and fine (C, M and F) mats were processed by vacuum bagging. Some batches were immersed in water up to 60 days in order to study the hydro-degradation. Mechanical tests were performed to obtain the b...