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Study on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Starch-Treated Jute Yarn-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Gamma Radiation

Jute yarn reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by compression molding. To prepare the composites, jute yarns were treated with 1–5% aqueous starch solution (w/w) varying different soaking time (1–5 mins). The yarn content in the composite was about 50% by weight. Starch treated jute composites showed higher mechanical properties than that of the untreated jute composites. Composites prepared with 3% starch treated yarns (for 3 mins soaking time) demonstrated the highest mechanical properties (optimized), i.e., tensile strength 52 MPa, tensile modulus 700 MPa, bending strength 50 MPa and bending modulus 1406 MPa. Optimized composite was then treated with gamma radiation (Co-60) at a dose of 500 krad and found further improvement of the mechanical properties. Water uptake of the composites at room temperature (25°C) was measured and found that starch treated samples showed higher water uptake properties than the control sample. After 500 hrs of simulating weathering testing, optimized composites retained its 75% TS and 93% TM.