Jute Composites as Wood Substitute

Abstract

Jute fibre is a p ro mising reinforcement for use in co mposites on account of its low cost, low density, high specific strength and modulus, no health risk, easy availability, renewability and much lower energy requirement for processing. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in finding new applications for jute fibre reinforced composites that are traditionally used for making ropes, bags, hessians, sacking, mats, and carpet.To protect environment, consumptions of wood should be reduced that will increase number of tree in the world which can maintain the balance in nature. A major portion of woods are used for making home furniture, household products and building and constructions. In all these cases wood can be replaced by co mposite materials made fro m natural fibres like jute, coir, sisal etc.Jute fibre composites enjoy excellent potential as wood substitutes in view of their lo w cost, easy availability, saving in energy and pollution free p roduction. In order to improve upon the laboratory-industry linkages towards applicat ion development & commercialization, some advanced composites mission launched on jute composites such as 'Jute-Coir Co mposites Boards', 'Jute-glass composite components for railway coaches' and others.The use of jute fiber mats in co mbination with polymer films potentially offers a rapid and simp le means of manufacturing co mposites through film stacking, heating and press-consolidation.