Improving the Thermal Stability and Functionality of Bamboo Fibers by Electroless Plating

Abstract

As environmental stress is caused by using fossilbased plastics, bamboo fibers (BFs), as one of the important natural materials, have received more and more attention. However, their poor thermal stability and lack of functionality largely limit their wider application. In this work, the electroless plating method was used to improve the thermal stability of the BFs and impart this function. It was found that the amount of metal deposition was the main factor affecting the thermal stability of BFs. A critical value existed, above which the surface of BFs could be completely covered by a plating layer, resulting in much enhanced thermal stability. The initial degradation temperature of BFs could be improved by 31 °C, as detected by TG. XRD and TG-FTIR spectroscopy were used to further understand the observed increase in thermal stability induced by electroless plating. It is suggested that the coating layer could block the invasion of external O 2 , thus delaying the degradation time and the pyrolysis rate. It is also very interesting to find that hygroscopicity and electrical and magnetic properties could be simultaneously improved. Our work provides a new method for the modification of BFs, which is important for the application of BFs.

Effect of Chemical Treatment of Cotton Stalk Fibers on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of PLA/PP Blended Composites

“…Stearic acid is susceptible to oxidation reactions at elevated temperatures, resulting in its decomposition into shorter-chain fatty acids, water, and other decomposition products. These decomposition products may react with the polymer matrix, thereby accelerating its thermal degradation [ 45 , 59 , 60 ]. The thermal stability of other chemically treated cotton stalk fiber composites has been enhanced.…”

Bamboo fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites fabricated by vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM): Effect of molding sequence and fiber content

“…As shown in Figure 4A, four distinct pyrolysis stages of the BFs were observed at 30–200°C, 200–220°C, 220–410°C, and 410–800°C. In the main pyrolysis stage of 220–410°C, much hemicellulose and cellulose in the BFs were pyrolyzed, and the residual mass was 18.55% at 800°C 37–39 . The main pyrolysis stage of the EP was 300–500°C, with a mass loss of 87.82%, and its residual mass was 5.76% at 800°C.…”

“…As shown in Figure 4A, four distinct pyrolysis stages of the BFs were observed at 30-200 C, 200-220 C, 220-410 C, and 410-800 C. In the main pyrolysis stage of 220-410 C, much hemicellulose and cellulose in the BFs were pyrolyzed, and the residual mass was 18.55% at 800 C. [37][38][39] The main pyrolysis stage of the EP was 300-500 C, with a mass loss of 87.82%, and its residual mass was 5.76% at 800 C. The T max was 364, 421, 412, and 413 C for the BFs, EP, BFRE-a, and BFRE-b, respectively, referring to the pyrolysis temperature corresponding to the maximum mass loss and associated with maximum pyrolysis (Figure 4B). Although incorporating BFs into the EP lowered its pyrolysis temperature, it noticeably reduced the pyrolysis rate of the BFREs at the main pyrolysis stage and improved the residual mass.…”