Evaluation of jute/glass hybrid composite sandwich: Water resistance, impact properties and life cycle assessment

The mechanical properties and the life cycle assessment (LCA) of jute woven fabric composites and their hybrids are investigated. Jute woven fabric composites were sandwiched with glass woven composites with the epoxy matrix. The sandwiched composites were prepared using the resin infusion under flexible tooling method. The water absorption test was performed on jute woven composites and composite sandwiches. It shows that thin layers of glass woven composites in the composites sandwich decelerate water penetration to jute woven composites, which are the core materials. The water absorption process applied to jute woven composites and their sandwich was modeled using Fick's second law. The glass woven composites at the outer surface of the sandwich can act as strong skins. The bending and impact (drop weight) properties of jute-glass woven composites are higher than those of jute woven composites. A commercial LCA software product was employed to evaluate the environmental impacts of manufacturing the jute woven composites and their hybrids. The manufacturing of jute-glass woven composites had more negative environmental impacts (global warming, ozone depletion, etc.) than that of jute fabric composites, because glass fibres are less environmental friendly than natural fibres.