Performance of bamboo plastic composites with hybrid bamboo and precipitated calcium carbonate fillers

Abstract

AbstractThe influences of hybrid bamboo and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) fillers in a recycled polypropylene/polyethylene matrix on the properties of bamboo plastic composites were studied. Thermogravimetric and Fourier transform infrared analyses of both thermo‐mechanically refined bamboo fiber (RBF) and ground bamboo particle (GBP) showed relatively higher holocellulose content in RBF, and more effective silane grafting on the RBF surface. The raw PCC particles contained over 95% calcium carbonate, and had an agglomerated form consisting of particles with a mean diameter of about 1.2 microns. Compounding the PCC particles with the plastic resin helped separate and disperse them in the matrix. Measured flexural strength and modulus of PCC‐only‐filled composites increased significantly from 15 to 30% PCC content levels, while the tensile and impact strength of composites decreased with the addition of PCC. For composites with hybrid bamboo and PCC fillers, tensile and flexural moduli were improved with the increase of PCC content. After silane treatment, RBF‐filled composites showed noticeably increased mechanical properties compared with those of GBP‐filled composites. For modulus values, PCC–bamboo–polymer composites were 3–4 times higher than those of PCC–polymer composites at high PCC levels. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers