Enhanced Mechanical Strength of BFRP Composite Using Modified Bamboos

In the present study epoxy and polyester resins have been reinforced with physically modified (alkali treated) bamboos strip matting to develop bamboo fiber-reinforced plastic (BFRP) composites. Bamboo mats were treated with 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% concentration of NaOH in distilled water for 30 min at 20°C (room temperature). The mechanical properties of the alkali treated bamboo composites (tensile strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, toughness, and impact strength) were determined. Optimum results have been obtained by bamboos treated with 5% NaOH solutions. Higher percentages of NaOH concentration result in poor mechanical properties of composites. The morphology analysis reveals that the bamboo treated with 5% NaOH exhibited better compatibility with the epoxy and polyester resins than the untreated bamboo. The improvements in tensile strength and flexural strength were higher by 55.15 and 43.92%, respectively, for composites with epoxy matrix. In the case of alkali-treated composites with polyester matrix, the tensile strength and flexural strength were higher by 69 and 59%, respectively.