Tensile behaviour of modified bamboo–glass fibre reinforced hybrid composites

Abstract

The tensile behaviour of randomly oriented, short bamboo fibre reinforced polypropylene (BFRP) and short bamboo-glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (BGFRP) hybrid composites fabricated by injection moulding have been studied in an effort to develop low cost, durable natural fibre reinforced composites. The effects of fibre loading, fibre length, and coupling agent (maleic anhydride- graft- polypropylene (MAPP)) on the tensile behaviour of BGFRP were examined. The effect of chemical treatment of both bamboo and glass fibres, using alkali, silane, and chitosan solutions, on the tensile behaviour of BGFRP was also examined, with the aim of enhancing the environmental durability of the natural fibre composite. Compared with the modulus of unfilled polypropylene, a significant improvement in tensile modulus was seen in BFRP and BGFRP, while the tensile strength showed only moderate improvement. The tensile modulus of BFRP increased by more than 100% whereas an increment of up to 300% was observed for BGFRP, compared with unfilled PP. An 11% increase was observed in the tensile strength of samples with a PP-MAPP matrix, compared with those without MAPP. However, the coupling agent had no noticeable effect on tensile modulus. A BGFRP sample with a bamboo fibre length of 1-6 mm showed the best results in terms of tensile strength and modulus, among other samples with shorter bamboo fibre length. All BGFRP samples containing modified fibres showed higher tensile strength and modulus than unmodified ones.