Eco-Friendly Jute-Based Hybrid Nonwoven Fabric for Packaging Applications

Eco-friendly materials must replace pure synthetic materials to protect the environment and improve human welfare. This study uses a blow room-integrated carding machine to create a filmy web by properly mixing modified jute and polyester fibers. Jute-polyester fiber blended carded webs have been utilized to produce jute-based hybrid nonwoven fabrics (JHNFs), which are subsequently given an antibacterial treatment by spraying a solution of silver nitrate, ethanol, and ammonia. The performance of the developed JHNF is evaluated by its morphological, FTIR, antibacterial, mechanical, and thermal properties. The fiber distribution of jute and polyester fibers is shown in SEM micrographs. The JHNF showed 29 and 27.8 mm ZOI against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Escherichia coli, respectively. The developed sample exhibited a 2.3% extension at the break and 170.8 N of breaking force. The sample confirmed itself as a water-repellent material as water could not penetrate from one surface to another when it was tested by a moisture management tester. The thermal conductivity of the produced sample was measured at 0.0839 W/m K. The lower thermal conductivity signifies a good thermally insulative packaging material. The developed jute polyester nonwoven fabric also demonstrated higher radiative heat resistance, providing a thermal barrier of 22 °C. The porosity, thickness, and density were determined at 49.59%, 0.22 mm, and 0.40 g/cm³, respectively. The sample exhibited significant thermal stability, with polymer degradation initiating at temperatures above 280 °C. The developed nonwoven fabric proves its practical utility as a packaging material, offering a viable alternative to pure synthetic packaging materials.