Tensile properties and morphological insights into chemically modified fibres of Pseudoxytenanthera bamboo species as sustainable reinforcements in composites

Abstract

This study evaluated the tensile properties of fibres from Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi and P. stocksii, with reference to the more commonly used Bambusa balcooa, in order to determine their viability as reinforcements in structural composite materials. Tensile tests were conducted on individual fibres under three distinct moisture conditions: ambient conditions, desiccated (fully dry) conditions, and saturated conditions for both untreated and chemically treated fibres. The investigation focused on comparing the axial tensile modulus and ultimate strength of bamboo fibres with varying gauge lengths. Notably, fracture morphology analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed a comprehensive correlation between natural fibre characteristics and their mechanical properties. A water absorption study was also conducted on these fibres. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis was performed to assess the thermal stability of the fibres. The results indicate that Pseudoxytenanthera species exhibit promising potential for the development of high-performance, sustainable materials within the realm of composite materials. This research contributes to expanding the understanding of bamboo fibres and their suitability as reinforcements in structural composites, thus promoting advances in the field of composite material engineering.

Keywords

• Bamboo fibre
• Mechanical characterization
• Tensile properties
• Composite materials
• Scanning electron microscopy
• Optical microscopy