Influence of chemical treatment of Bamboo fibers on the vibration and acoustic characterization of Carbon/Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites

Abstract

In the pursuit of sustainable materials, natural fibers are gaining attention because of their renewable nature and low environmental impact. However, their application in composites has been hindered by their hydrophilicity and non-homogeneity in the properties. To address these issues, chemical treatments such as Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Permanganate have been utilized. This study explored the impact of chemical treatments on Bamboo fibers and their subsequent influence on the vibration and acoustic properties of Carbon/Bamboo fiber-reinforced hybrid composites. This study investigates the vibration damping and acoustic characteristics of hybrid composites, considering the synergistic advantages of Bamboo’s natural damping properties and Carbon fiber’s mechanical strength. The damping factor of Sodium Hydroxide treated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites is 34.55% higher than that of untreated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites. It is also 11.95% higher than that of Potassium Permanganate treated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites. The flexural modulus of untreated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites was 164.36% and 157.77% higher than that of Sodium Hydroxide treated and Potassium Permanganate treated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites, respectively. The effect of chemical treatment on the fiber properties were analysed using the FTIR spectrum. Acoustic characterization revealed that untreated Bamboo fiber composites have higher sound absorption coefficients at lower frequencies, whereas Sodium Hydroxide-treated composites have higher sound absorption coefficients at medium and high frequencies. The results indicated that chemical treatment enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion, reduced stiffness, and influenced the damping and acoustic performance of the hybrid composites.