The Effect of Curing and Post-curing Processes on Physical and Mechanical Behaviors of Jute Fabric Reinforced AESO/Epoxy Based Bio-composites

Today, depending on the interest in finding ways to reduce dependence on fossil raw materials, the search for alternative bio-based materials to these raw materials is increasing. In this respect, thermoset resin composite materials, which are relatively difficult to recycle and leave large amounts of waste behind, draw attention when it comes to sustainability. This situation highlights the importance of the studies carried out to use bio-based thermoset resins in the most effective way, instead of petroleum-based resins. For the biocomposites produced in this study, a more sustainable resin system is optimized by adding acrylated epoxized soybean oil (AESO) to epoxy resin. Jute fabric reinforced composites are produced by vacuum infusion method, and the effect of adding different amounts of AESO (0, 30, 50, 70, 100 % wt.) to epoxy resin on the properties of the composite is examined by changing the curing (20 °C, 90 °C), and post-curing (120 °C) temperatures. Charpy and drop-weight impact resistance, flexural and tensile strength properties are tested, as well as measuring fiber weight ratio, water absorption rate and water contact angle of the samples. The results show that the impact resistance gradually decreases with curing and post-curing processes especially in samples containing 0–50 % AESO resin while the flexural strength increases by heat treatment. On the other hand, there is an increment in elastic modulus of pure epoxy samples with curing at 90 ° and post-curing at 120 °C. The water absorption rates of almost all samples have been reduced by heat treatment and the hydrophobicity of the samples including more than 50 % AESO increases with curing and post-curing processes.