Durability of bamboo-glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix hybrid composites

The resistance of bamboo fiber reinforced polypropylene composite (BFRP) and bamboo-glass fiber reinforced polypropylene hybrid composite (BGRP) to hygrothermal aging and their fatigue behavior under cyclic tensile load were studied. Injection molded samples were exposed in water at 25degreesC for up to 6 months and at 75degreesC for up to 3 months. Tensile strength and elastic modulus of BFRP and BGRP samples have shown moderate reduction after aging at 25degreesC after 6 months, however, they were reduced considerably after aging at 75degreesC for 3 months. Moisture absorption and tensile strength degradation are suppressed by using maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent in both types of composite systems. BFRP and BGRP samples were also loaded cyclically at maximum cyclic load of 35, 50, 65, and 80% of their ultimate tensile stress. Results suggest that BGRP has better fatigue resistance than BFRP at all load levels tested. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.