Sustainable High-Strength Composites: Hybrid Bamboo and Cellulose Reinforced Polyester for Automotive Engineering
摘要
The increasing demand for eco-friendly and high-performance composites has led to extensive research on natural fiber-reinforced materials. However, bamboo fiber composites face challenges related to interfacial adhesion, mechanical strength, and water absorption. This study enhances bamboo fiber composites by incorporating cellulose reinforcement and optimizing fiber-matrix interactions through surface treatment. The research investigates the effect of different cellulose content levels (1%, 3%, and 5%) on mechanical properties, fracture toughness, impact resistance, and water absorption. Composites were fabricated using a hand layup technique with 30% bamboo fiber in an unsaturated polyester matrix. The results demonstrated significant mechanical improvements with the addition of cellulose. The composite with 3% cellulose reinforcement exhibited the highest tensile strength (90 MPa) and flexural strength (143 MPa), while the composite containing 5% cellulose showed the maximum fracture toughness (30.29 MPa√m) and energy release rate (0.8267 MJ/m2). Impact resistance also increased notably, with the 5% cellulose-reinforced composite absorbing 12.5 J of energy. However, cellulose incorporation led to increased water uptake, with the 5% cellulose composite reaching 73%, indicating the need for moisture control strategies. These results show that cellulose-reinforced bamboo fiber composites are strong, impact-resistant, and lightweight, making them highly suitable for use in automotive body components.