Thermogravimetric analysis of flax, jute, and UHMWPE fibers and their composites with melamine and phenol formaldehyde resins

This article presents the thermal stability of flax, jute and ultrahighmolecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers their composites. Composites are fabricated using a combination hand layup compression moulding. Two types resins namely phenol formaldehyde (PF) melamine (MF) considered. Stacking eight layers individual fabric was utilised to produce composite panels 4 mm thickness. Alkali treatment flax showed an enhancement in behaviour, whereas UHMWPE sustained degradation till 474°C. Among two resin systems, neat MF degraded at 278°C with 84% mass loss, PF had final loss 52.54% 600°C. The thermogravimetric analysis confirmed increase composites considering both systems. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation on small molecular unit PF, MF, complexes cellulose indicated that natural matrix exhibited better stability, while binding characteristics for fibers. plausible intermolecular interactions between discussed. proposed application is be used as intermediate wall linings furnaces.