Jute Surface Modification and Chemical Treatment
topic
Surface treatments include: alkali treatment (5-10% NaOH removes hemicelluloses, lignin, increasing surface roughness and cellulose exposure), silane coupling agents (improving hydrophobicity and fibre-matrix bonding in composites), acetylation (reducing moisture absorption by 40-60%), enzyme treatment (laccase, xylanase for eco-friendly modification), and plasma treatment (creating reactive functional groups). Treatments modify contact angle from 40° to 85-110°.
Role
Chemical modifications address jute's inherent limitations—high moisture absorption (12-17% at 65% RH), poor interfacial adhesion with hydrophobic polymers, and susceptibility to microbial degradation—enabling technical applications.