Preparation of jute-plastic composite by the preirradiation method

The jute-plastic composite was prepared by shaking the preirradiated jute f ibers (by gamma rays) in a deoxygenated aqueous methyl methacrylate (MMA) s olution that contained surfactant and a homopolymer inhibitor, The total. d ose, dose rate, monomer concentration, reaction time, and temperature were optimized; the jute fibers preirradiated at a 3-Mrad dose at a 100-krad/h d ose rate yielded maximum MMA grafting under the above experimental conditio ns when the jute substrates were shaken for 3 h at 80 degrees C in a deoxyg enated 10% MMA aqueous solution containing 1% nonionic surfactant and 0.2% homopolymerization inhibitor. The composite was characterized by infrared a nd differential scanning calorimetric analyses; the results revealed that p reirradiated jute fibers were found to be grafted with MMA in the experimen tal conditions. The weathering effect and water absorption ability of the c omposite were determined and found that ungrafted jute samples lost both te nacity and stretchability by the weathering test, whereas the grafted jute samples retained strength (tenacity) even though these were subjected to a severe weathering test up to 105 h. The equilibrium moisture content sharpl y decreased with an increase in grafting up to the 15% grafting level, afte r which it was found to be very steady.