Macro, Micro and Nanoscale Bamboo Fiber as a Potential Reinforcement for Composites

Abstract

Vegetal fibers are obtained from leaves, stalks, culms, fruit and seeds, and have been used in the macro, micro and nanoscale as partial replacement of synthetic fibers in organic and inorganic matrices. Bamboo has high strength fibers, and is one of main nonwood resources and is available in tropical areas worldwide. These characteristics justify the study and application of bamboo fiber as reinforcement in the macro, micro and nanoscale. The macrofibers were obtained from bamboo culms, the microfibers from the chemical pulping and the nanofibers were obtained from the mechanical nanofibrillation of the pulp. The fibers were subjected to chemical, physical, mechanical and morphological tests. There was modification in the chemical composition of the bamboo after pulping, such as decrease of amount of the lignin, hemicellulose and extractives in 42.4%, 33.3% and 83.7%, respectively.The bamboo fibers width have been reduced from 0.26 mm to 19.8 μm after pulping and after nanofibrillation process the width was reduced from 19.8 μm to 16.2 nm.The decrease of the fibers dimension can be seen from the micrographs and analyzing it mechanical properties, the bamboo fibers are a reinforcement potential in macro, micro and nanoscale to organic and inorganic matrices.