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There is a greater awareness of the need for materials with an expanding population and jute-based composites provide an opportunity to fill this growing need for materials within a cost effective and acceptable environmental framework.
We have used jute fibre for so long in low value products, such as gunny bags, twine, ropes, cords and carpet backing that we tend to consider jute as a low quality resource. We have also limited our thinking that the major use for jute, if not the only use, is for textile applications. We have not accepted the vast potential for the use of jute in fibre-based composites. Part of this may be due to the idea that we have also accepted, or at least, learned to live with, jute fibre limitations, such as rotting, swelling, and burning. Because of these limitations, we have not been able to accept the idea of producing long lasting structural composite materials based on jute fibre. |
