Moisture absorption, tensile strength and microstructure evolution of short jute fiber/polylactide composite in hygrothermal environment

In this research, aging behaviors of short jute fiber/Polylactide (PLA) composite material in hygrothermal environment were investigated. The material was fabricated by using film stacking hot pressed method. The aging was carried out for uncoated samples and adhesive tape coated samples in saturated vapor at 70 °C. Moisture absorption rates of the samples were measured during the aging process. It is found that the moisture absorption process of uncoated samples includes three stages: a short and quick moisture uptaking stage, a slow stable uptaking stage and an abrupt very quick moisture uptaking stage. Microstructures of the samples in different aging stages were observed. The main defects occurred during the aging process include pores, microcracks, delamination and complete relaxation in the whole structure. The results reveal that the moisture absorption and aging process can be effectively retarded by coating. The molecular weight measurement by gel permission chromatography (GPC) indicated that the PLA matrix was severely degraded in hygrothermal environment. Tensile strength severely decreased after aging.