INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL AND WEAR PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM TRI HYDRATE FILLED JUTE AND FLAX FIBER REINFORCEMENT POLYMER COMPOSITE

     The composite was fabricated using a hybrid combination of flax and jute fibers, A series of mechanical tests tensile, impact, hardness, flexural and wear tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of Aluminum trihydrate on flax/jute fiber-reinforced composite materials. The performance of 0% ATH, 10% ATH, 20% ATH, 30% ATH in fiber composites was compared across all tests using three specimens per group. The results consistently indicate that ATH improves 10% and 20% composition and sightly decreased in 30% ATH composition of the mechanical properties of the composite material. The present study on jute and flax fiber reinforced polymer composites filled with aluminum trihydrate (ATH) demonstrates that natural fiber hybridization combined with appropriate filler addition can significantly enhance composite performance. 1.           In the tensile test, the average ultimate tensile strength increased from 30.6933 N/mm²(0%ATH) to 34.099 N/mm²(20%ATH), reflecting a modest but positive improvement. This suggests that aluminum trihydrate enhance up to 20% after that slightly decrease the interfacial bonding between the natural fibers and the matrix, allowing for better stress transfer under tensile loading. 2.           The impact test revealed a more significant enhancement in performance, with the average impact strength increasing from 2.148 J (0% ATH) to 3.368 J (20% ATH). This indicates that aluminum trihydrate significantly improves the composite’s ability to absorb energy and resist sudden impact loads. The increased toughness is attributed to improved fiber surface roughness and bonding after adding aluminum trihydrate. 3.           In the hardness test, the Vickers hardness values showed a noticeable increase from an average of 49.53 (0%ATH) to 73.76 (30%ATH). This indicates better resistance to surface indentation and wear, further confirming improved material integrity and interfacial adhesion resulting from aluminum trihydrate. 4.           The flexural test also showed an increase in average flexural strength from 98.80 N/mm² (untreated) to 125.54 N/mm² (treated). While the improvement is relatively modest, it still reflects enhanced load-bearing capacity and stiffness under bending stresses due to the improved fiber-matrix interface. 5.           The results show that wear loss and wear rate decrease consistently with increasing ATH content, with the 30% ATH composite exhibiting minimum wear due to its higher hardness and improved resistance to surface deformation. The presence of ATH particles enhances load-bearing capacity and forms a protective layer at the sliding interface, thereby reducing material removal. 6.                    Overall, the experimental data demonstrate that aluminum trihydrate significantly enhances the mechanical performance of flax/jute fiber-reinforced composites. The improvements are particularly prominent in impact strength and hardness, with consistent gains in flexural strength as well and improve tensile strength up to 20% after slightly decreased. These enhancements are primarily due to the removal of impurities and increased surface roughness of fibers, which lead to better mechanical interlocking and stronger adhesion with the matrix. Therefore, Aluminum trihydrate proves to be an effective nanoparticle for improving the structural properties of natural fiber composites, making them more suitable for engineering and industrial applications. SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK·         Thermal Properties Study: research can be extended to analyze the thermal properties (e.g., thermal conductivity, thermal stability) of flax/jute fiber-reinforced composites alongside mechanical properties. ·         Optimization of Alkali Treatment: Investigate the effects of varying NaOH concentrations and soaking durations to determine optimal conditions for fiber treatment. ·         Microstructural Analysis: Use Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to examine the surface morphology and fiber-matrix bonding in both treated and untreated composites. ·         Use of Fiber Powder: Explore the mechanical performance of composites reinforced with flax or jute fiber powder instead of traditional fiber forms. ·         Hybrid Composite Development: Develop hybrid composites by combining flax/jute fibers with other fibers or nanoparticles to enhance overall material properties.

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