Effect of fiber length on mechanical properties of "green" composites using a starch-based resin and short bamboo fibers

Abstract

This paper describes a method to fabricate short bamboo fiber reinforced "green" composites (BFGC) and evaluate their mechanical properties. The composites were prepared by hot-pressing a mixture of starch-based resin and short bamboo fibers. Their tensile strength and flexural strength were characterized. The effects of fiber content and fiber length on the mechanical properties of BFGC were investigated in detail. Both tensile and flexural strengths of BFGC were strongly affected by fiber aspect ratio and fiber content. Bamboo fibers with a small aspect ratio of 20 do not act as reinforcement but as filler.