Abstract
Bamboo flour was used as a filler in the manufacture of bamboo flour-plastic composites. The properties of bamboo flour-plastic composites with 80% filler contents were examined using waste bamboo flour, polypropylene (PP), and maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene (MAPP) and/or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The compounds could be successfully manufactured using a Henschel type mixer, and then the composite boards were made by compression molding and extrusion molding. The composite boards made from both moldings showed good fracture strengths and water resistance by the addition of compatibilizer. The mechanical properties of boards made with extrusion molding and a ratio of bamboo flour: PP: MAPP=80: 20: 2 were bending fracture strength; 74MPa, and water absorption (WA) after 24hr immersion in water; 1.5%. The color of composites darkened with the addition of an additive. The addition of PTFE significantly increased luster and smoothness of the appearances of the composite boards.
