Jute composite with MMA by gamma and UV radiations in the presence of additives

Jute yarns treated with MMA + MeOH solutions were irradiated either with Co -60 gamma source or with UV radiation. In gamma radiation, polymer loading of MMA (methyl methacrylate) onto jute increased quite substantially, but t he strength of the composite decreases sharply after 15% polymer loading. T he gamma-treated jute samples were very brittle. On the other hand, jute ya rns irradiated in situ under UV radiation was found to be grafted with MMA. The tensile strength of the UV-cured jute yarn composite increases with an increase of grafting level, in contrast to the behavior observed with the gamma-irradiated jute composite samples. The tensile properties of the comp osites can be further enhanced by the incorporation of certain additives an d coadditives into MMA + MeOH solutions. This opens diverse applications fo r jute materials. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 900 -906, 1999.