The Processing and Characterization of Polyester/Natural Fiber Composites

The mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) and bamboo fiber (BF) composites were evaluated. Composites containing maleic anhydride-grafted PCL (PCL-g-MA/BF) exhibited noticeably improved mechanical properties due to better compatibility between the two components in comparison to PCL/BF. The dispersion of BF in the PCL-g-MA matrix was clearly more homogeneous due to the creation of branched and cross-linked macromolecules via reactions between anhydride carboxyl groups in PCL-g-MA and hydroxyl groups in BF. The tensile strength and elongation of the PCL-g-MA/BF composites at break was considerably greater than that of PCL/BF composites. In a soil environment, PCL/BF biodegraded slightly faster than PCL-g-MA/BF. Finally, the PCL-g-MA/BF composites not only provided a plateau tensile strength at break up to 40 wt% BF but also provided more easily processing properties.