Study on the Mechanical, Morphological and Wear Rate of Jute Cellulose-Reinforced Composites

The increasing global demand for polymer-based materials has accelerated the pursuit of sustainable and biodegradable reinforcements to enhance composite performance. In this study, cellulose was derived from jute fiber through acid hydrolysis, chlorination, alkaline extraction and bleaching. Epoxy-based composites were fabricated via the hand layup technique by incorporating varying weight fractions (5wt%, 10wt% 15wt% and 20wt%) of jute cellulose into the epoxy matrix. The mechanical performance of the fabricated composites, including tensile strength, flexural strength and hardness was evaluated in accordance with ASTM standards, along with dry sliding wear performance under abrasive conditions. Among the tested compositions, the composite containing 15wt% jute cellulose (15J) exhibited the highest mechanical performance, achieving a tensile strength of 22.30MPa, flexural strength of 65.23MPa and surface hardness of 90. Notably, it also exhibited the lowest wear rate, showing a 43.75% improvement in wear resistance compared to neat epoxy. This enhancement is attributed to improved cellulose fibril–matrix interfacial bonding and uniform dispersion. SEM analysis confirmed microstructural integrity and identified typical failure modes such as fibril pull-out and micro-voids. The results establish 15wt% jute cellulose as an effective reinforcement for developing cost-effective, biodegradable composites suited for structural and automotive applications.