Flexural Properties of Long Bamboo Fiber/ PLA Composites

Abstract

This paper describes the flexural properties of biodegradable composites made using natural fiber and biodegradable plastics. Biodegradable composites were fabricated from bamboo fiber bundles and PLA (polylactic acid) resin. In this research, effect of molding temperature and fiber content on flexural properties of bamboo fiber reinforced composites was investigated. The flexural strength of this composite increased with increasing fiber content up to 70%. The flexural strength of composites decreased at molding temperature of 180˚C. Biodegradable composites possessed extremely high flexural strength of 273 MPa, in the case of molding temperature of 160˚C and fiber content of 70%.