AN ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO FIBRE REINFORCED BIO-COMPOSITES

Authors: ELIZABETH TAIYE OBEDAPO AND IBRAHIM O. ISSA Department Of Polymer And Textile Technology, College Of Science and Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna

Journal: Nigerian Journal Of Technical Education | Volume: 23 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 202 - 210

Keywords: High-density polyethylene, matrix, reinforcement, bio-composite

Abstract

This research is based on studies of themechanical properties of bamboo fibre-reinforced polyethylene bio-composite. The extraction of bamboo fibre was carried out using a mechanical shredder. Some part of the fibre was treated and milled. The constituent materials were mixed in three different proportions of 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40 HDPE/bamboo fibre with respect to the volume for both treated and untreated fibres. The bio-composite samples were compounded with the aid of a two-roll milling machine at a temperature of 230 ºC for 10 min. The bio-composites were fabricated using the compression moulding technique. The tensile and flexural properties of the bio-composites were evaluated. The results showed that bio composites fabricated with treated filler have improved mechanical properties (tensile strength and percentage elongation are 23.9, 12.9, 11.9 and 24, 14 and 12 respectively), as compared to those that were loaded with untreated filler (the tensile strength and percentage elongation are 19.4, 14.6, 7.1 and 18, 18 and 6 respectively). On the other hand, surface modification of bamboo fibre had a negative impact on the flexural properties of the bio-composites. Thus, untreated filler showed better flexural properties on the bio-composites than the treated.