Static and dynamic behavior of jute/epoxy composites with ZnO and TiO2 fillers at different temperature conditions

This paper presents the mechanical properties and free vibration characteristic of ZnO and TiO2 filled woven jute/epoxy composite at room temperature and subzero temperatures of (−40, −20 and 27 °C). The composite specimen is manufactured by adding nano ZnO and TiO2 filler at various weight ratios of 2%, 4%, and 6% using the hand layup technique. The presence of fillers, composite layup and environmental parameters like temperature, frequency, humidity determine the anisotropic composite damping. Here the dynamic response of a cantilever jute/epoxy composite is performed and Young's modulus is also calculated. The dynamic response of the beam is carried out using the Oberst beam technique according to ASTM E 756 which gives the methodology for finding the free vibration characteristics like damping and natural frequency properties at a lower frequency using an impact hammer test set up. The static mechanical properties like tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, ILSS, the impact strength of composite with and without filler is found at room temperature and subzero temperature. The glass transition temperature Tg of the composite is also found out from the DTA curves. Water absorption, one of the environmental parameters of the composite is determined as the composite specimen is natural fibre reinforced. The experimental results showed that the mechanical properties are improved by the addition of fillers. The failure mechanism of the composites is also discussed with the help of SEM images.