Mechanical Characterization of Jute-Epoxy Symmetric Cross-ply Composite Laminate

This experimental investigation describes the development and characterization of a new set of natural fiber-based polymer composites consisting of unidirectional jute fiber cross-ply as reinforcement and epoxy resin as matrix material. The composites were fabricated using a hand lay-up technique and are characterized with respect to their physical and mechanical properties. Experiments were carried out to study the effect of fiber orientation and layer arrangement on the physical and mechanical behavior of these composites. Four layers of jute fibers were arranged, maintaining the order of angle (0°/90°/90°/0°) that forms a symmetric cross-ply jute-reinforced epoxy composite. Two types of samples were made according to fiber orientation in the composite. The results showed a significant increase in tensile strength for alkali-treated unidirectional composites, likely due to improved fiber-matrix adhesion and more effective stress transfer. Both the longitudinally and transversely oriented samples have shown improved performances compared with other jute-epoxy composites.