Recycled needle punched natural jute fiber mats with 32 % by vol. fiber volume
content were used as reinforcement for unsaturated polyester matrix composites. This study
intended to study the durability of jute mat composites by investigating the flexural properties
of jute mat composites including flexural strength and modulus under the effect of hot water
absorption at 100oC for 96, 192, 384 h immersion times compared to the virgin specimens.
The results showed that as the immersion time of the composites increases, the water absorbed
by the composites increases and so the thickness swelling increases. As a result of that, the
flexural strength and modulus of jute mats composites decrease compared to the virgin
specimens. On the other hand, when the immersed specimens are dried for 6 hours, the
flexural strength and modulus of the composites was recovered compared to the immersed
specimens due to the decrease in the absorbed water content.