Enhanced properties of bamboo short fiber reinforced polymer composites with alkali and graphene oxide

Abstract

Bamboo short fibers (BSFs) have become popular as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibers because of their present affordable performance levels and environmentally friendly solutions. The main challenge with bamboo fiber composites is their weak interfacial bonding and insufficient mechanical strength. This research investigated mechanical and interfacial performance optimization of BSFs by applying alkali treatment and graphene oxide (GO) coating methods. The alkali treatment successfully eliminated non-cellulosic contaminants and strengthened the bond between fiber and matrix, and then the sequential GO coating operation brought additional reinforcing benefits to the system. Various tests analyzed the prepared composites, including tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, FTIR, DMA, TGA, water absorption, and SEM analyses. The tensile strength of alkali-treated and GO-coated BSFs composites surpassed untreated fibers by ∼113%, and their flexural strength achieved ∼93% increase. Impact resistance also improved significantly. Definitive signs point to the modified BSFs having potential as high-performance, environmentally sustainable reinforcements for polymer composites because of their strengthened interface bond and improved thermal stability. The study brings forward valuable information for developing sustainable composite materials that can serve structural needs and industrial processing demands.