Flexural properties of all bamboo green composites

Abstract

This paper deals with the development and evaluation of environment-friendly composites that are composed of only bamboo. Japanese timber bamboo (Madake) is hot pressed in order to increase its mechanical properties, such as flexural strength and impact strength. The hot pressing conditions are varied from room temperature to 220°C. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, compressive strength and Izod impact strength increase with increasing the moulding temperature up to 160°C, showing the maximum peak values. The effect of moulding pressure on the mechanical properties is smaller than the effect of the moulding temperature. Extensive densification in both the vascular bundle and parenchyma cell regions is achieved by hot pressing and this increase in density results in the increased mechanical properties.