Influence of wood dust fillers on the mechanical, thermal, water absorption and biodegradation characteristics of jute fiber epoxy composites

The present work deals with the influence of wood dust namely Rosewood and Padauk in the jute fiber-based epoxy composites. The work involves the fabrication of four different laminates of jute-epoxy composites using hand layup process with varying proportions of Rosewood and Padauk wood dust fillers compared with the composite in the absence of filler. The characterization of the mechanical and thermal properties was carried out by tensile, compression, flexural, shore D hardness, impact and thermogravimetric analysis as per ASTM. It is inferred from the test results that the mechanical properties got enhanced by the fine distribution of Padauk wood dust particles by improved adhesion with the matrix. The coarse structure of Rosewood dust over the composite improved thermal stability. Scanning Electron Microscopy was utilized to study the fractured interfaces of the mechanically tested composites. Furthermore, the developed composites affinity towards moisture and biodegradation were studied using water adsorption and biodegradability tests.