APPLICATIONS OF JUTE REINFORCED COMPOSITES

APPLICATIONS OF JUTE REINFORCED COMPOSITES:-

Seventy years ago, nearly all resources for the production of commodities and many technical products, were materials derived from natural textiles. Textiles, ropes, canvas and also paper, were made of local natural fibres, such as flax and hemp. Some of these are still used today. As early as 1908, the first composite materials were applied for the fabrication of large quantities of sheets, tubes and pipes for electronic purposes (paper or cotton to reinforce sheets, made of phenol- or melamine–formaldehyde resins). In 1896 for example, aeroplane seats and fuel-tanks were made of natural fibres with a small content of polymeric binders.

Owing to low prices and the steadily rising performance of technical and standard plastics, the application of natural fibres came to a near-halt. More recently, the critical discussion about the preservation of natural resources and recycling has led to a renewed interest concerning natural materials with the focus on renewable raw materials.

Compared to Western Europe, India continued to use natural fibres, mainly jute-fibres, as reinforcements for composites. Pipes, pultruded profiles, and panels with polyester matrices, were produced with these fibres. Jute reinforced polyester resins ere used for buildings. Natural fibres, as construction materials for buildings were known long before. For centuries, mixtures of jute stem and jute fibres, dried in the sun, were employed as construction composites. Today, a renaissance in the use of natural fibres as reinforcements in technical applications is taking place mainly in the automobile and packaging industries (e.g. egg boxes).

JUTE COMPOSITE CAN BE USED:-

• In the packaging industry, i.e. manufacturing of crates, boxes or cases used for storage and transportation of agricultural products; semi-rigid composite products for packaging fresh fruit and fragile goods; flexible packaging of tea and tea chests.
•  In the automobile industry, i.e. to replace glass fibre in car door panels, dash boards, car bumpers, rear window shelves, etc.
•  As construction material, door frame, window shuttering, floor board, indoor panels, ceilings, corrugated sheets, home furniture, garden furniture etc.
•  Toys, garden canopy, garden fences, street lamp stands, window planters etc.

      The jute composites may be used in everyday applications such as lampshades, suitcases, paperweights, helmets, shower and bath units. They are also used for covers of electrical appliances, pipes, post-boxes, roof tiles, grain storage silos, panels for partition & false ceilings, bio-gas containers, and in the construction of low cost, mobile or pre-fabricated buildings which can be used in times of natural calamities.