Characterization of Vinyl Ester/Jute Fiber Bio-Composites in the Presence of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
In this study, vinyl ester –Jute fiber biocomposites were prepared using vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) process. Woven Jute fibers were used with mass fraction 0.68. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are added to the resin with weight ratio 0.5: 99.5 to investigate the thermo-mechanical properties of bio-composites. Storage and loss modulus of vinyl ester bio-composites were investigated in the presence MWCNTs over a range of temperature (25 to 160 oC) to measure the capacity of bio-composite to store and dissipate energy. Damping properties of vinyl ester bio-composites were studied in terms of tan (d). Viscoelastic test using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that the glass transition temperature increases with the addition of MWCNTs up to 112.4 oC. Addition of jute fiber reinforcements improves the storage modulus value of vinyl ester more than 65% at room temperature. Significant improvement in storage modulus was found in the presence of MWCNTs.