Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Jute Cellulose Nanofibers (CNFs) Nanocomposites

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are linear polymer that exhibits high stiffness and strength due to extensive intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds among the molecules. These nano materials are taking place in replacing synthetic fiber as reinforcement in nanocomposites. This present work investigates the potential used of CNFs in improving microstructural and mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposite. Cellulose nanofibers used in this work was extracted from jute fiber via chemomechanical method. Neat TPU and TPU/jute CNFs nanocomposite were successfully prepared by using melt blending method. In addition, the morphology and mechanical properties of prepared net TPU and TPU/jute CNFs nanocomposite were evaluated through field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), shore durometer and vickers micro hardness. FESEM micrograph reveals that the jute CNFs exhibited a uniformly dispersed in TPU matrix. The incorporation of jute CNFs result in increases of 20.13% hardness strength of prepared nanocomposites.