Ultrahigh Performance of Nanoengineered Graphene-Based Natural Jute Fiber Composites

Sarker, Forkan; Potluri, Prasad; Afroj, Shaila; Koncherry, Vivek; Novoselov, Kostya S.; Karim, Nazmul

Abstract

© 2019 American Chemical Society. Natural fibers composites are considered as a sustainable alternative to synthetic composites due to their environmental and economic benefits. However, they suffer from poor mechanical and interfacial properties due to a random fiber orientation and weak fiber-matrix interface. Here we report nanoengineered graphene-based natural jute fiber preforms with a new fiber architecture (NFA) which significantly improves their mechanical properties and performances. Our graphene-based NFA of jute fiber preform enhances the Young modulus of jute-epoxy composites by ∼324% and tensile strength by ∼110% more than untreated jute fiber composites, by arranging fibers in a parallel direction through individualization and nanosurface engineering with graphene derivatives. This could potentially lead to manufacturing of high-performance natural alternatives to synthetic composites in various stiffness-driven applications.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 7, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 7, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 12, 2019
• Deposit Date: Dec 8, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 9, 2019
• Journal: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
• Print ISSN: 1944-8244
• Electronic ISSN: 1944-8252
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 23
• Pages: 21166-21176
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b04696
• Keywords: graphene, graphene oxide, jute fibers, natural fiber composites, mechanical properties
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/4789708