Effects of Alkali and Peroxide Treatments on Bamboo Fiber in Bamboo/E-Glass Hybrid Composites

The hydrophilic nature of natural fibers limits their compatibility with polymer matrices in composite applications. This study explores chemical surface treatments to enhance the performance of bamboo/E-glass fiber hybrid composites. Bamboo fibers were manually extracted from culms and treated with alkali and peroxide solutions to modify their surfaces. Hybrid composites were fabricated using the hand lay-up method with varying bamboo/E-glass fiber ratios and tested according to ASTM standards. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyze chemical and morphological changes. Mechanical tests evaluated tensile, flexural, and impact strengths, while water absorption behavior was also assessed. The best tensile (250 MPa) and flexural (294.84 MPa) strengths were obtained from the 5% alkali-treated 10/30 bamboo/E-glass composite. The highest impact strength (30.8 kJ/m²) was recorded in the 10% peroxide-treated 10/30 composite. Chemically treated composites exhibited reduced moisture absorption, confirming improved fiber matrix bonding. Overall, alkali and peroxide surface treatments significantly enhanced the mechanical and physical properties of the hybrid composites, making bamboo fibers more suitable for advanced composite applications.