Synthesis of Polymeric Composites Reinforced with Unidirectional and Bidirectional Bamboo Fibers

Abstract

Due to environmental problems and exhaustion related to materials provided from non-renewable sources, the development of recycling technologies using residue as raw material has grown increasingly. Polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic polymer, despite be easily recycled, presents a decrease in their mechanical properties after reprocessing cycles. In order to solve this problem, reinforcements may be added, producing a composite with better properties. The choosing of the dispersed phase aimed to consider, especially, its mechanical properties. Moreover, it was also considered the orientations of the incorporated fibers at the composite mechanical strength. In this scenario, a composite material of polymer matrix from recycled PP reinforced unidirectionally and bidirectionally with bamboo fibers were prepared. The fibers were treated with modifiers in order to increase the adhesion between polymer/fiber. The results showed that the use of reinforcement improves the mechanical properties of the polymer. Also, the superficial treatments were effective, indicating that there was an increase of the compatibility between the materials. It can be also inferred that the orientation of the fibers has directly influence at the final properties of the composite.