Abstract

LAZARO LEON, Karen Catherine; GONZALES MORA, Héctor E.; CARDENAS OSCANOA, Aldo J.  and  GAGO CAMPUSANO, Javier. Physical properties of materials made of bamboo (Guadua angustifolia Kunth) and polypropylene. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.38, pp.79-94. ISSN 2007-1132.

Today there is a growing demand of thermoplastic composites reinforced with lignocellulosic materials in the construction and automotive industries; this growth is driven by various factors, including the need of utilizing environment friendly products, the strict regulation of the use of chemicals, and lifestyle changes. Wood fibers and flour are used in the composite materials and can be replaced with flax, sisal, palm, fique, jute, coconut, and bamboo agro-industrial waste. Particles from the apical part of residual bamboo (Guadua angustifolia) canes were used to obtain reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites, with or without a coupling agent (maleic anhydride-propylene, MAPP). The composites were made with the extrusion compression molding process, using -20/+40, -40/+60 and -60/+80 ASTM meshes; 50/50, 40/60 and 30/70 bamboo/plastic mixing ratios, and 0 and 2 % MAPP. A total of 18 formulations were obtained. The following physical properties were assessed: moisture content, density, absorption and swelling. The results show that the materials attained the best values with the -60/+80 mesh and the 30/70 mixing ratio when they contained MAPP. It can be concluded that composites can be made using bamboo particles, propylene and a coupling agent.

Keywords : Bamboo; Guadua angustifolia Kunth; composite materials; extrusion method; polypropylene; physical properties.