Abstract: The manufacture and the mechanical properties of thermoplastic Polypropylene(PP) reinforced by jute flat knitted fabrics were discussed in this article. Firstly the 1x1 rib, cardigan, and half cardigan structures were knitted as reinforcing materials on flat machine. The preforms with 3-layer and 5-layer were mixed with PP fibers at different weight ratios and then were hot- pressed to make the laminates. The tensile and bending properties of different technologies were tested and the results were analyzed. It reveals that the property of laminate with 1x1 rib in 3-layer and 6/4 proportion is the best which is significantly higher than those of other laminates with rib structures. As far as different knitted structures are concerned, the properties of cardigan reinforcing composites at 1/1 proportion are better than those of 1x1 rib and half cardigan structures. With regard to 1x1 rib structure laminates at the same weight proportion, the property of 3-layer laminates is better than that of 5-layer.

Key words: jute, flat knitted fabric, polypropylene, composite