Mechanical characterization of jute fiber-reinforced composites manufactured via Digital Light Processing (DLP)

This study investigates the mechanical and microstructural behavior of polymeric composites manufactured by Digital Light Processing (DLP) using a UV-curable acrylated resin reinforced with natural jute fibers ( Corchorus capsularis ). Composites were fabricated with fiber mass fractions of 0%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% in solid geometries (CS-), and the influence of fiber content on mechanical performance was evaluated. The DLP method demonstrated high precision in reproducing complex geometries and enabled the homogeneous dispersion of fibers within the matrix. Mechanical characterization included tensile, compression, impact, flexural, and Shore A hardness tests, while Poisson’s ratio was determined via uniaxial compression. Surface morphology and fiber–matrix interactions were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that fiber incorporation significantly affected the mechanical properties of the composites. Tensile strength decreased compared to the neat resin (48.49 MPa), reaching 29.35 MPa for CS-2.0, while stiffness increased due to the reinforcement effect. Compressive strength improved markedly, with CS-2.5 achieving 134.46 MPa compared to 77.9 MPa for the neat matrix. In flexural tests, CS-2.0 showed superior performance (60.5 MPa) relative to the control sample (44.6 MPa). Impact resistance decreased with increasing fiber content, suggesting reduced energy absorption. Hardness values remained relatively stable across all samples. SEM images confirmed good fiber–matrix adhesion and uniform fiber distribution. Overall, the study highlights the feasibility of using natural fibers in DLP-printed composites, demonstrating that jute fiber reinforcement can selectively enhance mechanical performance while contributing to the development of more sustainable engineering materials.