Performance Properties of Treated Jute Fabric Laminated by Electrospun Recycled PET Nanofibers

Transforming from plastic to environmentally friendly materials is essential for both human health and the protection of the environment. In this work, a modified jute fabric (MJF) laminated with electrospun recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) nanofibers with silver nitrate (AgNO₃) is presented. The purpose to apply the silver nitrate and rPET nanofiber mat is to enhance the performance properties of packaging materials like mechanical strength, thermal insulation, moisture resistance, and antibacterial properties. The jute fabric was pretreated with alkali to make it compatible with rPET electrospun nanofibers, which improved breathability with a diameter of 24.70 ± 7.79 nm and an average area percentage of fiber-to-fiber gap 17.50%. According to mechanical testing, the final product, MJF with nanofiber coating of rPET (MJNF) sample, satisfied the properties of packaging materials with a breaking force of 15,566 N and an extension of 10.79% at break. Strong thermal stability was indicated by thermal testing, which revealed a radiant heat difference of 26.75°C and thermal conductivity of 0.0607 W m⁻¹·K⁻¹. Excellent water resistance, a crucial characteristic for food preservation, was revealed by moisture management testing. Food safety was improved by antibacterial testing, which showed inhibition zones of 20.2 mm and 18.4 mm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. rPET nanofibers were successfully incorporated, as confirmed by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a homogeneous nanofiber network on the jute surface was shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to these findings, MJNF have promise for environmentally friendly packaging since they successfully solve environmental issues by utilizing both recycled materials and improved antibacterial properties.