Synthesis and mechanical behavior of composite material reinforced with Guadua fiber and with a polyurethane or polyester matrix

A reactive hot-melt resin (polyurethane) was used to manufacture Guadua composites with a certain flexibility, high processing speed, good initial rigidity, and high temperature performance. These composites can support a moderate tensile stress, allow for large strains at low stresses, and have a low density and a working temperature range of -40 °C and 110 °C. During the flexural test, bamboo composites with reactive polyurethane matrix do not break or fail during the test. A polyurethane-based reactive hot-melt resin was characterized by tensile tests, Shore hardness tests, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry. Besides, a composite material was made with Guadua fiber and polyester matrix, which had a greater strength in the test of tension and flexion, although it had a lower percentage of elongation than the composite material with reactive polyurethane. Guadua fiber can increase the strength by 266% of polyurethane matrix and 228% of polyester matrix.