An Investigation on the Comprehensive Property Assessment and Future Directions of Single Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites Fabricated by a Non-Woven Paving and Advanced Molding Process

Abstract

The demand for eco-friendly renewable natural fibers has grown in recent years. In this study, a series of polypropylene-based composites reinforced with single bamboo fibers (SBFs), prepared by non-woven paving and a hot-pressing process, were investigated. The influence of the content of SBF on impact strength, flexural strength, and water resistance was analyzed. The properties of the composites were greatly affected by the SBF content. Impact strength increased as SBF content increased. The modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity show an optimum value, with SBF contents of 40% and 50%, respectively. The surface morphology of the fractured surfaces of the composites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The composites showed poor interfacial compatibility. The water resistance indicates that the composites with higher SBF contents have higher values of water absorption and thickness swelling, due to the hydrophilicity of the bamboo fibers. The thermal properties of the composites were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis and by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of the composites was gradually reduced, due to the poor thermal stability of SBFs. In the composites, the maximum decomposition temperature corresponding to SBF shows an increasing trend. However, the maximum decomposition temperature of polypropylene was not influenced by SBF content. The melting point of the polypropylene in the composites was lower relative to pure polypropylene, although it was not affected by increasing SBF content.

Influence of fibre loading on the density, voids, dimensional resilience, tensile characteristics and thermomechanical behaviour of bamboo fibre and bio‐epoxy composites

“…Thus, the order of thickness swelling behaviour was bio-epoxy < B-30 < B-40 < B-50 < B-60. The trend observed in the change of thickness due to swelling exhibited similarities to a prior investigation conducted by Tang et al 28 In their study, the researchers investigated the water absorption and thickness swelling tendencies of bamboo fibre/polypropylene composites while altering fibre loading within 10−60 wt%. Their findings indicated a corresponding increase in both water absorption and thickness swelling with the increase of fibre loading in bamboo-fibre-loaded composites.…”

Properties and Applications of Bamboo Fiber–A Current-State-of-the Art

“…Test results showed that as bamboo fiber loading increased, the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength of the material decreased, while the tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and water absorption of the material increased. Tang et al [96] prepared polypropylene-based composites reinforced with single bamboo fibers and analyzed the effect of single bamboo fiber content on the properties of the material. It was observed that the impact strength and the elastic modulus increased with the increase in the single bamboo fiber content, which enhanced the toughness and rigidity of the composite.…”

The Effect of Functionalized SEBS on the Properties of PP/SEBS Blends

“…As a result, PP is extensively used in industries such as home appliances, automotive, and construction. However, the high shrinkage rate and relatively low notched impact strength of PP have greatly limited its further promotion and application [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. To eliminate this disadvantage, PP can be blended with a thermoplastic elastomer to improve the toughness of PP [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”