Fabrication and Testing of Jute Fibre-Reinforced Polyester Composite Boards for Furniture Applications in Enugu State

The furniture manufacturing sector in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, relies predominantly on imported particle board and plywood panels, creating a compelling opportunity for locally sourced composite alternatives. This study fabricates and tests jute fibre-reinforced polyester composite boards as potential substitutes for conventional furniture substrate materials. Jute fibres sourced from local suppliers were treated with 5 percent sodium hydroxide solution and incorporated into unsaturated polyester resin matrices at fibre contents of 15, 25, and 35 percent by weight. Composite boards were fabricated using compression moulding at 120 degrees Celsius and evaluated for modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bond strength, screw withdrawal resistance, water absorption, and thickness swelling following standard testing methods. Results show that composite boards with 25 percent jute fibre content achieved modulus of rupture values of 18.4 MPa and internal bond strength of 0.62 MPa, both exceeding minimum thresholds specified for general-purpose furniture-grade particle board. Screw withdrawal resistance was found to be 12 percent higher than comparable commercial particle board samples. Water absorption at 24 hours was 8.3 percent for alkali-treated fibre boards, representing a 22 percent reduction relative to untreated fibre composites. Thickness swelling values remained below 12 percent, acceptable for indoor furniture applications. The study concludes that jute fibre-polyester composite boards are technically viable for furniture manufacturing in South East Nigeria, with the potential to reduce raw material import costs while supporting local agricultural fibre supply chains. Keywords: jute fibre, polyester composite, furniture board, mechanical properties, Enugu