Improvement of Physiochemical Properties of Short Bamboo Fiber-Reinforced Composites Using Ceramic Fillers

ABSTRACT

Filler material plays an important role in improving the properties of hybrid composites. In the present work, the effect of ceramic fillers (Al₂O₃ and SiC) was investigated on the chemical resistance and water resistance of short bamboo fiber-reinforced composites. Epoxy composites with short bamboo fiber reinforcement (without and with alkali treatment) were fabricated using hand lay-up method. Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and silicon carbide (SiC) particles were used as filler materials. Alkaline treatment of the bamboo fibers was done using 5% NaOH for fabricating one set of composite . Chemical resistance of the composites samples was studied towards the acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonates, benzene, toluene, carbon tetrachloride solutions. Water absorption behavior was also studied for all the samples. A comparative analysis was carried out between different sets of composite samples. Results showed that the chemical resistance and water resistance of the composites increase significantly with the incorporation of fillers. Also, the alkali-treated composites achieved improved resistance against chemicals and water, as compared to untreated composites.

摘要

填充材料对改善复合材料的性能具有重要作用.本文研究了陶瓷填料（Al2O3和SiC）对短竹纤维增强复合材料耐化学性能和耐水性能的影响.采用手工叠层法制备了短竹纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料（无碱处理和碱处理）。以氧化铝（Al2O3）和碳化硅（SiC）为填料.采用5%氢氧化钠对竹材纤维进行碱处理，制备出一套复合材料冲击波.研究了复合材料样品对醋酸、氢氧化钠、氢氧化铵、碳酸钠、苯、甲苯、四氯化碳溶液的耐化学性.对所有样品的吸水行为进行了研究.对不同组合样品进行了对比分析.结果表明，填料的加入使复合材料的耐化学性和耐水性显著提高.此外，与未经处理的复合材料相比，经碱处理的复合材料对化学品和水的耐受性得到了改善.

KEYWORDS:

• Polymer composites
• ceramic fillers
• thermosetting resins

关键词:

• 聚合物复合材料
• 陶瓷填料
• 热固性树脂

Acknowledgments

The author is thankful to Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology (Govt of India) for supporting this research under the Fast Track Proposal Young Scientists scheme. The author is thankful to the reviewers of the manuscript for many helpful suggestions to improve the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology (Govt. of India) [SR/FTP/ETA-150/2013].