Enhancing the mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced green composites varying cashew nut shell liquid composition and using mercerizing process

Green composites, because of its economic advantages and contribution to environmental sustainability, finds its wide range of applications in several industrial sectors. Mechanical characterization of any engineering materials is of utmost importance in the manufacturer's point of view. The present article demonstrates the work concerning the fabrication and mechanical characterization of a novel green composite having jute fibers as the reinforcement and cashew nut shell liquid blended synthetic epoxy (CNLBSE) as the matrix constituents, with a primary aim of enhancing the mechanical properties of the jute fiber reinforced green composites (JFRGC). The enhancement was achieved in two phases. In the first phase, the percentage by weight of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) composition in the composite was varied, and in the second phase, the jute fibers were mercerized (chemically treated with sodium hydroxide). The mechanical characterization of the fabricated green composites was conducted as per the ASTM standards and characterized by tensile and flexural properties. The results indicate that the treatment of the fibers increases the tensile and flexural strength of the JFRGC.