Chemical Resistance and Tensile Properties of Bamboo and Glass Fibers Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites

Abstract

The chemical resistance of Bamboo/Glass reinforced epoxy hybrid composites to acetic acid, Nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, benzene, toluene, Carbon tetrachloride and water was studied. The Tensile properties of these composites were also studied. The effect of alkali treatment of the bamboo fibers on these properties was studied. It was observed that tensile properties of the hybrid composites increase with glass fiber content. These properties found to be higher when alkali treated bamboo fibers were used in the hybrid composites. The hybrid fiber composites showed better resistance to the chemicals mentioned above. The elimination of amorphous hemi-cellulose with alkali treatment leading to higher crystallinity of the bamboo fibers with alkali treatment may be responsible for these observations.