Durability of China Jute Fiber/Polylactide Composite in Indoor Environment: A 15-Year Follow-Up Study

The durability of degradable polylactide and its composites is a primary bottleneck for its long-term applications. This work reports the investigation results on the durability of short jute fiber/polylactide (PLA) composite material in indoor conditions performed for over 15 years. The material was fabricated in July 2006, using the film stacking hot pressed method. It was exposed in an indoor environment for a durability test. The appearance and the microstructure of the material were inspected by using a scanning electron microscope. Surface reticular micro-cracks and small pits on the resin-rich region of the composite plate were observed. The thickness of the composite plate did not show visible change. Tensile strength was tested by using a universal tensile test machine. Tensile stress at the break did not show an obvious reduction compared with the initial strength obtained 15 years ago. The results demonstrate that jute fiber/polylactide composite has good durability in moderate environments.