Mechanical and tribological characterization of vacuum pressurized impregnation (VPI) treated bamboo fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites with jute mat layer under fretting wear conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study explored the performance of VPI-treated bamboo fiber reinforced FRP laminated composites, focusing on fretting wear and mechanical behavior with various chemical treatments. FTIR analysis revealed that NaOH treatment effectively removed hemicelluloses and lignin, with peak shifts at 3330, 2918, and 1420 cm−1, while tannic acid induced peak shifts at 1640 and 1500 cm−1, indicating cellulose interactions. Phosphoric acid treatment reduced intensity at 3340 and 2890 cm−1, suggesting cellulose depolymerization. TGA showed varied weight loss profiles, reflecting thermal property modifications. XRD analysis indicated changes in crystalline structure, and SEM revealed structural alterations. Tensile strengths at 0.5% weight were 216 ± 3.0 MPa for alkaline-treated bamboo fiber composite (A-BFC), 256 ± 0.01 MPa for tannic acid-treated bamboo fiber composite (T-BFC), and 281 ± 3.0 MPa for phosphoric acid-treated bamboo fiber composite (P-BFC). Fretting wear analysis demonstrated that P-BFC withstood loads up to 45N, with wear resistance improving with increased fiber content. dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) highlighted that P-BFC exhibited the highest initial storage modulus and a tan δ peak of 69°C, compared to T-BFC and A-BFC, both at 68°C. The wear rate decreased with higher bamboo fiber content and load, showcasing the potential of VPI-treated bamboo fiber composites for applications requiring enhanced strength and wear resistance.