Tensile, Flexural and Water Absorption Properties of Bamboo Fiber/Unsaturated Polyester Composites: Effect of Calcium Carbonate Content

Abstract

The paper presents the effect of CaCO3 content on the tensile, flexural and water absorption properties of bamboo fiber/polystyrene-modified unsaturated polyester composites. Two volume fractions of bamboo fibers had been used with the CaCO3 content varied from 2.5 to 10 (wt%). The tensile and flexural properties were used to characterize the composites. In addition, the water absorption and its effect of the flexural properties had also been conducted. The results showed that at the bamboo content of 30%, adding CaCO3 up to 10wt% tended to decrease the tensile strength and elastic modulus of bamboo fiber/modified unsaturated polyester composites up to 27% and 4%, respectively; however, at the bamboo content of 20%, its effect was not significant for both the tensile strength and the elastic modulus. Adding CaCO3 seemed not to have a significant effect for both the flexural strength and modulus. Having exposed in distilled water, CaCO3 did not significantly affect the water uptakes and the flexural properties of bamboo fiber/modified unsaturated polyester composites; however, the flexural strength and modulus significantly decreased in the ranges of 24 - 45% and 36 - 43%, respectively, compared to those in dry condition.