Chemical Resistance and Tensile Properties of Glass and Bamboo Fibers Reinforced Polyester Hybrid Composites

The chemical resistance of the glass/bamboo fibers reinforced polyester composites to acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonates, benzene, toluene, carbon tetrachloride, and water was studied. The hybrid fiber composites showed better resistance to these chemicals. Besides this, the tensile properties of glass/bamboo fibers reinforced polyester hybrid composites were studied. The effect of alkali treatment of the bamboo fibers on these properties was also studied. It was observed that tensile properties of the hybrid composites increased with glass fiber content. These properties were found to be higher when alkali treated bamboo fibers were used in the hybrid composites. The elimination of amorphous hemi-cellulose with alkali treatment leading to higher crystallinity of the bamboo fibers may be responsible for these observations.