Mechanical Properties of a Composite Formed from Bamboo Granules and Glass Fiber

Abstract

Bamboo powder-reinforced polyethylene (PE) composite was developed as an ecologically friendly engineering material, and its mechanical properties were systematically investigated. To enhance adhesion between bamboo powder and the polyethylene matrix, maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was used as a compatibilizer. Given the growing demand for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) products, integrating natural and synthetic reinforcements, such as bamboo powder and glass fiber, presents a sustainable alternative in materials engineering. In this study, a composite matrix composed of HDPE, bamboo powder (BP), and glass fiber (GF) was fabricated using compression molding. The mechanical performance of the samples was assessed through flexural and compressive tests, considering different mass ratios of the components. Results indicate that the inclusion of BP and GF enhances compressive and flexural strengths by 20%, making the composites suitable for load-bearing applications, such as stress-bearing sheets, films, and pipes. However, a decrease in tensile and impact strengths was observed due to insufficient interfacial adhesion between the reinforcements and the HDPE matrix, highlighting a trade-off in mechanical performance. The findings suggest that optimizing fiber-matrix compatibility, potentially through improved surface treatments or alternative compatibilizers, could further enhance the overall mechanical performance of these composites. This research contributes to the advancement of sustainable composite materials by demonstrating the potential of BP/GF/HDPE composites in structural applications while addressing environmental concerns associated with plastic waste and non-renewable materials.