Effects of a layered structure on the physicomechanical properties and extended creep behavior of bamboo-polypropylene composites (BPCs) determined by the stepped isostress method

Abstract

Abstract A layered bamboo-plastic composite (BPC) consisting of bamboo (Phyllostachys makinoi) particles and polypropylene was investigated. The influence of the layering conditions, including the thickness and bamboo content in various layers, was the focus in terms of the physicomechanical and creep properties of the BPCs. The results showed that a three-layered BPC (BPC3L) with a 1:3:1 thickness ratio and with top/bottom layer containing 40% bamboo exhibited the best specific flexural properties. An accelerated creep test approach was applied, known as the short-term stepped isostress method (SSM), to predict the long-term creep behavior of BPC3L. The results indicated that the creep master curves, which are constructed from different SSM testing parameters, agree well with the long-term experimental creep data and that the creep resistance of homogeneous single-layered BPC was better than that of BPC3L.