Effect of Silanes on Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fiber-epoxy Composites

Bamboo matting-reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated. Untreated and alkali-treated bamboo matting were treated with different silanes. The mechanical properties (tensile strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus) were determined. It was found that tensile strength of composite reinforced with only silane-treated fibers is comparable to that of composite with untreated fiber. The elastic modulus of composite with untreated fiber is better than the silane-treated composites. In the case of mercerized fiber treated with silanes, there is reduction in the tensile strength compared with only alkali-treated bamboo-reinforced composite.