Utilizing Malaysian bamboo for use in thermoplastic composites

Bamboo is one of the potential lignocelluloses materials which can be used in thermoplastic composites in order to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based materials. Bamboo exhibits such potential due to its availability, good material properties and high yield resources. The utilization of bamboo for thermoplastic composites will reduce the demand for plastics and the environmental impact associated with their production and disposal. Several studies showed that bamboo has a very good prospect for reinforcement of thermoplastic composites and is a promising substitute for wood-polymer composites (WPC) products. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential production and performance properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based composites with Malaysian bamboo species (Bambusa vulgaris and Schizostachyum brachycladum) as particulate filler. Different bamboo particle sizes (75 μm and 1 mm) at different bamboo particle loading (25 and 50% w/w) were used and processed. The PVC matrix and bamboo particles were mixed together with additives using a standard processing procedure for wood-PVC composites production. Pure PVC (without bamboo particles) composites and wood flour-PVC composites were also prepared under the same processing conditions of this system for comparison purposes. The composite samples were tested for performance properties, viz. flexural strength, impact bending and water uptake. As a result, bamboo-PVC composites were successfully produced using this standard processing procedure. Regardless of bamboo species, the performance properties of the composites mainly depended upon particles loading with minor effect of particle sizes. No significant difference in the properties of composites, between bamboo species, was recorded. The presence of bamboo particles has tremendously increased the flexural modulus of elasticity (MOE) of composites from 0% (pure PVC composites without bamboo particles) to 50% loading (almost two times increase), although there were slight decreases of flexural modulus of rupture (MOR), and some defective results of impact bending and water uptake. Water uptake, MOE, and MOR of all groups of bamboo-PVC composites was superior to their wood-PVC composites counterpart, with some other results such as impact bending (in the case of 25% particles loading) being better than those of wood-PVC composites. These results show that the use of bamboo will not only serve as an alternative for WPCs, but also expand the commercial utilization of bamboo and development of greener, cleaner products.