In this research, fiber bundles of bamboo which have diameter of 100 - 300 μm and length of 100 mm were used. Figure 1 shows macroscopic photograph of bamboo fiber bundles used in this work. Steam explosion method was used to take out bamboo fibers. Steam explosion is the method when the water contains in bamboo is heated under high temperature and pressure, then bamboo is rapidly released to the atmosphere, so that the water evaporate into steam, result of parenchyma inside the bamboo shattered.

In order to produce biodegradable composites that have high fiber content, an emulsion-type PLA (Miyoshi Oil & Fat Co., LTD.; PL-1000) was used (Figure 2). This resin contains fine particles of approximately 4.0 μm in diameter suspended in aqueous solution with a mass content of approximately 40%. The molecular weight of used PLA is around180,000.

First, preliminary composites were produced by putting the biodegradable resin on the surface of bamboo fibers

and drying at 105˚C for 120 min in an oven. Next, biodegradable composite specimens were fabricated by hot pressing using a pressing machine. In this process, the preliminary composites were set in a metallic mold and heated to 120˚C, 140˚C, 160˚C, 180˚C and 200˚C with hot-press machine. The metallic mold was held at 120˚C - 200˚C for 5 min and specimens were hot-pressed at 10 MPa. The dimensions of the biodegradable composite specimens were 15 mm × 100 mm × 3 mm for flexural testing (Figure 3). The volume fraction of bamboo fiber in the specimens was varied from 0% to 70%. Table 1 was showed molding condition in this research.

Three-point flexural tests were conducted using a testing machine (SIMADZU Model AG-250kNE), following JIS K7171 (plastics determination of flexural properties). Flexural tests were performed at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min and a span length of 48 mm as shown in Figure 4. Five specimens were prepared and analyzed. A 95% confidence interval was calculated by statistical analysis.

The top view of the biodegradable composites with 0 and 70 % of fibers molded at 160˚C are shown in Figure 5. From this figure, a color of PLA specimen is milky. The other, it of bamboo fiber of 70% is dark brown. It can be observed that the distribution of fibers is parallel, and that there are no voids that would cause a decrease in strength. The novel technique presented herein, which uses an emulsion-type biodegradable resin, provides a suitable internal environment for achieving high fiber volume, in which voids are reduced in the composites.

Figure 6 shows top views of biodegradable composites of 50% fiber content. Figures 6(a)-(d) indicate specimens molded at 120˚C, 160˚C, 180˚C and 200˚C, respectively. From Figure 6(a), resin doesn’t finish melting in case of 120˚C, and it’s the turbid color. From Figure 6(b), in the case of fiber content of 50% and molded at 160˚C, there are no voids because resin melted completely. From Figure 6(c), in the case of 180˚C, voids have occurred to the surface. In the case of molding temperature of 200˚C, unevenness in the surface appears more conspicuously.

The relationship between the density of the composites of 50% fibers and molding temperature is shown in Figure 7. From this figure, the density of composites increased with rising molding temperature until 160˚C.

However, density decreased dramatically at 200˚C. This was expected as it was known bring many voids at temperatures above 200˚C, from Figure 6(d).

The relationship between the density of the specimens molded at 160˚C and fiber content is shown in Figure 8. From this figure, density of specimen is increased with increasing fiber content until 50% of fibers. But, density decreased slightly at 70% of fibers. From this figure, resin isn’t filled sufficiently inside the specimen. Therefore density decreased slightly at 70% of fibers.

The density of products molded at 0% and 50% of fibers are 1.24 and 1.31 g/cm³, respectively.

Figure 9 shows the relationship between flexural strength and molding temperature. The flexural strength leveled off at molding temperature of 120˚C - 160˚C, but decrease after 180˚C. The strength of the mold product decreased because strength of fiber in itself decreased [13] -[15] . Therefore, it can be said that 160˚C is the most suitable molding temperature.

Figure 10 shows the relationships between flexural strength and fiber content molded at 160˚C. From this figure, it can be seen that flexural strengths increase linearly with increasing fiber content. The flexural strengths were 273 MPa, in the samples with a fiber content of 70%. This value is higher than the flexural strength of the bamboo reinforced material reported in the past [16] [17] .

Figures 11-13 show fracture behavior after flexural testing. Figure 11 shows specimen molded at 120˚C. The color of specimen is milky. In the case of the specimen molded at 120˚C there is no fracture of fibers, delamination can be seen between the fiber bundle and biodegradable resin, and bonding between the fiber bundle and the biodegradable resin is poor. In the case of molded at 160˚C (Figure 12), it’s possible to observe fracture of fiber.

In the case of specimens molded at 200˚C (Figure 13), they explained that this cause was due to a lot of voids and low shearing stress between fiber and resin. Moreover, the strength of the mold product decreased because strength of fiber in itself decreased, from Figure 9. The composites molded at 200˚C brought many voids (Figure 6(c)). These voids caused the decrease of density and strength.

Figure 14 shows the relationship between flexural modulus and molding temperature. In the case of 120˚C, flexural modulus indicated 3.2 GPa. Flexural modules increased at 140˚C, and remain constant thereafter. As the reason that the value of 120˚C indicated low value, from Figure 11, because adhesion force of fiber and resin is weak, it can think detaching has formed.

Figure 15 shows the relationship between flexural modulus and fiber content. From this figure, flexural modulus increases linearly with increasing fiber content. Unidirectional bamboo fiber/bamboo powder composites fabricated with fiber content of 70% and molding temperature at 160˚C have flexural modulus of 6.8 GPa.

Table 2 shows mechanical properties of general plastic and FRP materials. The density of bamboo fiber reinforced PLA composites indicated 1.2 - 1.3 g/cm³. The density of bamboo composite indicated same as value of PC (polycarbonate) and POM (polyacetal).

The flexural strength of common plastic materials, PP (polypropylene) is 41 - 45 MPa. Measurements of the press molded product of PLA resin of 100% indicated strengths nearly identical to that of PP. Measurements (197.6 MPa) of composite of 50% fibers and at molding temperature of 160˚C indicated a flexural strength nearly identical to that of GFRP (random). The flexural strengths (273 MPa) of the specimen of the fiber of 70% fabricated at 160˚C exceeded the flexural strengths of GFRP (cross ply).

Based on these results, it is consider possible that bamboo fiber/powder composites could substitute effectively for conventional FRP products.