Properties of Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Cornstarch-Based Composites

In this paper the composites made of cornstarch and PVA as matrix, bamboo fiber as reinforcement, glycerol and urea as mixed plasticizer were prepared through the extrusion molding. By physical methods, the effects of cornstarch, bamboo fiber, PVA and mixed plasticizer on the mechanical properties of composites were investigated. SEM was used to observe the influence of different content of mixed plasticizer in cornstarch. The results showed that an increase in mixed plasticizer content from 10% to 40% in cornstarch did improve the mechanical properties of the composites compared without mixed plasticizer, and when the mixed plasticizer (wt-glycerol: wt-urea=2:1) content was 30% to cornstarch, the composite showed the highest tensile strength and elongation rate. Composites made from 20% of bamboo fiber, 30% of cornstarch, 50% of PVA and 30% of mixed plasticizer to cornstarch gave the best tensile strength (15.8N). Glycerol and urea could permeate the cornstarch molecules and plasticize it under high temperature and shearing in the extrusion process.