Degradation of Polypropylene and Jute Fiber-Reinforced Composites Exposed to Natural and Accelerated Aging: Mechanical Properties and Wettability
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript considers degradation of polyprolylene and Jute fiber-reinforced composites exposed to natural and accelerated aging. The following aspect or details are suggested to be considered:
- In order to explain the thermal stability of industrial waste (in Section 3.1), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of jute fibers and polypropylene were also suggested to be conducted and compared with that of industrial waste (W).
- Page 5-6, line 173-174, “After natural aging (168 days), although a slight drop has occurred in all CA values, all of them continued above 90°”, this does not match the result in Figure 4, in which all CA values have a slight increase after 168 days. Please check.
- The Y-axis of Figure 5 has no unit and axis information. In addition, because it is the comparison of different samples, it is better to use a bar graph instead of a line graph.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: In order to explain the thermal stability of industrial waste (in Section 3.1), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of jute fibers and polypropylene were also suggested to be conducted and compared with that of industrial waste (W).
Response 1: The authors thank the reviewer for the comment. It is worth mentioning the mixed nature of the industrial waste. The used waste is a refuse of internal automotive components composed of jute fibers, polypropylene, and of polyester impurities. Therefore, as it is not possible to separate the components, the thermal stability of pure jute fibers were provided based on literature data (reference number [20]). The results were better discussed and modifications have been made in experimental, results and discussion, and reference sections of the manuscript.
Point 2: Page 5-6, line 173-174, “After natural aging (168 days), although a slight drop has occurred in all CA values, all of them continued above 90°”, this does not match the result in Figure 4, in which all CA values have a slight increase after 168 days. Please check.
Response 2: The authors appreciate the reviewer´s alert and fully agree that there was a misinterpretation of the CA data shown in Figure 4. After natural aging (168 days), the samples showed non-predicted CA results, since degradation starts on the specimens’ surface, mainly by oxidative processes, which make it porous, thus favoring water absorption. This result may be related to an experimental error since the measurements were performed at different times. The CA results of the composites were better described. Modifications in the results and discussion and conclusions sections were done.
Point 3: The Y-axis of Figure 5 has no unit and axis information. In addition, because it is the comparison of different samples, it is better to use a bar graph instead of a line graph.
Response 3: The authors thank the reviewer for the corrections. It was an error due to formatting the size of the figures. Figure 5 and its description have been corrected with the right Y-axis unit and information. Line graphs have been replaced by bar graphs, as suggested by the reviewer.
Reviewer 2 Report
A paper focuses on Jute fiber-reinforced composites. There are a lot of results particularly in the presentation throughout the manuscript. Besides, there is some old literature in the introduction, so should focus on recent literature related to the topic. The conclusion is very broad, please concise with important points. In Introduction: please kindly consider this following important recent review papers. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.083 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120978 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2019.00226
I recommended this article to be accepted and published in the revised version..
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Point 1: There is some old literature in the introduction, so should focus on recent literature related to the topic. In Introduction: please kindly consider this following important recent review papers.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.083 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120978 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2019.00226
Response 1: The authors thank the reviewer for the suggestion and fully agree on the corrections. All review papers have been read and modifications have been made in the introduction section of the manuscript. These new references (number [6], [8], [11], and [15]) have been added in the revised manuscript.
Point 2: The conclusion is very broad, please concise with important points.
Response 2: The authors thank the reviewer for the comment. The conclusion has been improved and highlights only the relevant results.
Reviewer 3 Report
The present study develops Jute fiber-reinforced composites. This study would be considered useful research and can lay the groundwork for more industrial studies in the field
- However, the conclusion and introduction parts require more development and the number of references and their distribution should be improved as well.
- Generally, mechanical properties of these composites such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and hardness should be investigated completely. SEM micrographs of the composites can improve your work impacts, I believe. pleases do apply other complimentary tests if you have access.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Point 1: The conclusion and introduction parts require more development and the number of references and their distribution should be improved as well.
Response 1: The authors thank the reviewer for the comments and fully agree. The introduction and conclusion sections were better developed and 5 others recent literature related to the topic were added (references [6], [8], [11], [15] and [20]). Modifications have been made in the introduction, conclusion, results and discussion, and reference sections of the manuscript.
Point 2: Generally, mechanical properties of these composites such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and hardness should be investigated completely. SEM micrographs of the composites can improve your work impacts, I believe. pleases do apply other complimentary tests if you have access.
Response 2: The authors thank the reviewer for the suggestions. The mechanical properties were investigated as a function of the intended applications. Regarding the SEM micrographs, SEM analysis of samples before aging provided a more accurate morphological analysis of the composites and correlated with the mechanical properties. Such results were recently discussed in our previous work (reference [16]). The results were better discussed and modification have been made in the results and discussion section of the revised manuscript.
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Thanks for the changes you applied to the manuscript.
