Effect of moisture content on the properties of silanized jute‐epoxy composites

The composites investigated in this article were epoxy resins reinforced with jute‐fibers. The jute‐fibers were modified with an epoxyfunctional‐γ‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy‐silane (A‐187 from Osi‐Specialtis GmbH, Germany), which works as a coupling agent between fiber and matrix. The introduction of the coupling agent distinctly influences the mechanical properties of the composite: Dynamic modulus was doubled, damping was reduced by about 50%, and the Wöhler curves showed fatigue limits increased by about 20%. The investigations pointed out further that the moisture uptake of composites with silanized fibers was reduced by about 10–20%. Moisture at equilibrium and kinetics of absorption increase with increasing fiber content. Finally, the application of the coupling agent caused a reduction of moisture effects on mechanical properties. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, and fatigue strength under repeated tensile stress were reduced up to 30%. This tendency was not duplicated in the results for flexural strength and flexural modulus.