New route for modifying cellulosic fibres with fatty acids and its application to polyethylene/jute fibre composites

The main aim of this study was the modification of jute fibres with stearic acid using new route called azide method. The surface changes after modification process were characterized by attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses. It was shown that the stearic acid was bonded to JF using azide method and the surface modification through azide method did not deteriorate the surface properties of JF. Representative JF containing low-density polyethylene-based composites were also prepared and characterized by tensile testing, dynamical mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimeter. According to mechanical test results, the tensile strength and elastic modulus were increased using stearic acid modified JF through azide method. According to differential scanning calorimeter results, surface modification with stearoyl azide reduced the degree of crystallinity with respect to alkaline treated one.