Improving mechanical, thermal, and erosive wear performance of natural bamboo fibers modified epoxy resin matrix composites

Natural bamboo fibers (BFs), which were treated by silane coupling agents, reinforced epoxy resin (EP)–based composite were synthesized. Effects of the coupling agents on the chemical structures of the BFs were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and hardness of the BFs/EP-based composites were improved significantly, which could be attributed to the excellent strengthening effect of the BFs. Simultaneously, experimental investigations on the thermal behaviors of the BFs/epoxy composites were also presented, indicating that the thermal decomposition temperature of the polymer materials was lowered but the flame retardancy was improved. The bamboo fiber breakage and fiber split were also observed on the impact fracture surface of the composites, which indicate energy dissipation during fiber debonding and pullout process. Moreover, the erosive wear tests have also been carried out to analyze the erosive wear properties of the natural bamboo fibers which modified the epoxy matrix composites. The results indicate that the erosive wear resistance of the EP-based composite was improved greatly when the natural bamboo fibers content was 15 wt.%.