Preparation and characterization of hybrid composites using jute fiber, carbon nanotubes, polypropylene

The increasing demand for lightweight and sustainable materials has driven the development of hybrid polymer composites that combine natural fibers with nanoscale reinforcements. In this study, a polypropylene-based hybrid composite reinforced with 10 wt% jute fibers and 0.5 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared by extrusion and injection molding. The thermo-mechanical behavior of the materials was evaluated through tensile and Izod impact tests, FTIR, SEM/TEM, TGA, DSC and VICAT analyses. The hybrid composite (J/PP/CNT) showed a 2.14 % increase in tensile strength (34.56 MPa) compared to pure PP (32.57 MPa), while the jute-only composite reached 36.70 MPa. The Young’s modulus increased from 1116 MPa (J/PP) to 1160 MPa (J/PP/CNT), evidencing CNT-induced nucleation effects; however, elongation decreased to 2.02 mm/mm, consistent with increased rigidity. Impact resistance improved significantly, rising from 35.89 J/m² (J/PP) to 40.37 J/m² in the hybrid composite, surpassing even pure PP (39.20 J/m²). Thermal analysis showed that the Tonset increased from 249.2 °C (J/PP) to 260.8 °C (J/PP/CNT), and the final residue rose from 0.6 % to 2.3 %, reflecting the thermal stability of CNTs. VICAT softening temperature increased from 129.15 °C (PP) to 141.16 °C (hybrid). DSC revealed a slight reduction in crystallinity compared to pure PP (from 60.32 % to 49.15 % in the hybrid), but without changes in melting temperature (168 °C). FTIR confirmed characteristic interactions among PP, jute functional groups and oxidized CNT surfaces. Overall, the incorporation of CNTs enhanced impact resistance, thermal behavior and stiffness, confirming a synergistic reinforcement effect and indicating the potential of PP/jute/CNT composites for sustainable, high-performance industrial applications.