Investigating the Mechanical and Wear Properties of Jute Fibre Reinforced in Aluminium Composites

Pure aluminums are known with defects such as low strength. This can be mitigated by incorporating dispersed jute fibre to enhance the strength and toughness of the resulting composite. Jute fibre is known for its toughness, strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance. This investigation aimed to determine the mechanical wear properties of jute fibre-reinforced aluminum composites. The study utilized jute fibre, aluminum cans waste, a mold, and a digital balance as primary materials. Jute fibre was employed for the study while aluminum scrap wastes were heated in a foundry at 600 degrees Celsius. The stir casting method was employed, varying jute fibre particle sizes from 0 to 12 wt.%, with the 0% jute fibre sample serving as a control. Mechanical properties, including tensile strength, impact strength, and hardness, were investigated. Wear characteristics were also examined. Results indicated that 12 wt.% jute fibre demonstrated superior performance compared to the control and other jute fibre-reinforced composites in terms of mechanical properties. Hardness improved with reinforcement, with 12 wt.% jute fibre exhibiting the highest hardness (93 BHN). Flexural strength increased with additional reinforcements, attributed to reduced ductility and elongation. However, 12 wt.% jute fibre reinforcement displayed lowest and minimal wear loss which was due to increased reinforcement at higher percentage. Thus, it could be well inferred that 12 wt.% jute fibre/matrix had a well-arranged structure with minimal agglomeration and voids. In conclusion, the Al+12 wt.% jute fibre composite showed notable improvements in hardness, tensile, and flexural strength, while 12 wt.% jute fibre had minimal wear loss compared to the control and other composite samples. microhardness, grain size, impact energy, strain, and overall mechanical behavior (Dubey et al., 2021).  The global population's growth and improved living standards, driven by technological advancements, have led to a surge in waste materials generated from agricultural activities. Disposing of these waste materials poses a significant environmental challenge due to their difficulty in disposal. Recycling these materials presents an opportunity to reduce pollution and address disposal space issues. Consequently, current researchers are actively exploring the conversion of waste materials into environmentally friendly alternatives for applications in the automobile and construction industries. Examples of such agricultural waste materials include jute fiber, jute fiber, Sorghum Husk Ash (SHA), palm oil fuel ash (POFA), Palm Oil Clinker (POC), coconut husk, and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA). Although extensive research has been conducted, ongoing developments aim at successfully integrating waste materials as partial reinforcements in composite materials. The production of environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and cost-effective alternative materials from agricultural wastes holds significant market potential to meet the needs of both rural and urban areas (Ikubanni et al., 2021). Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMCs) possess properties such as low density, high stiffness, impressive strength, wear resistance, variable load resistance, and stability at high temperatures. These attributes make AMCs suitable for designing various components for advanced applications (Chak et al., 2020). Therefore, this study aims to assess the utilization fibers from agro waste such as jute in the development of aluminum metal matrix composites.