Evaluation of VOC emission and flexural properties of jute fiber reinforced waterborne acrylic resin composites: The impact mechanism of hydrothermal aging

In order to reveal the effect mechanism of hydrothermal aging on jute fiber (JF)-reinforced waterborne acrylic resin (WAR) composites and broaden the application of JF in the field of composites, JF/WAR composites were prepared in this paper to explore the impact mechanism of hydrothermal aging on the flexural properties and volatile organic compound (VOC) release of composites. The results showed that the atomic kinetic energy increased with increasing temperature at 25℃, 40℃ and 60℃, and the diffusion coefficient increased by 476.88 % at 60℃. The weight loss rates were 1.53 %, 2.71 %, and 5.07 %, respectively. The weakening of the C-O peaks, O-H peaks as well as CO proved the degradation of JF and WAR. The flexural strength of the samples decreased to 63.43 MPa, 59.87 MPa, and 42.88 MPa with increasing temperature at 25℃, 40℃ and 60℃, respectively, and the flexural modulus was more sensitive to hydrothermal aging. Under short-term hydrothermal aging conditions, the composites all complied with Fick law. Water molecules diffuse, adsorb and dissolve hydrophilic VOC molecules in the pores of the composite materials. Non-Fick diffusion behaviors occurred under long-term hydrothermal aging conditions, and serious damage occurred at the interface of the fiber matrix, with fiber breakage as the main damage mode, and the transmission resistance of VOC will decrease after 1440 mins hydrothermal aging, and the release of VOC will increase significantly.