Abstract
Biodegradable composites made from bagasse fibre before and after alkali treatments were prepared by a press forming, and the effects of alkali treatments on the fibres and composites were investigated. The composites reinforced with 1% alkali solution treated fibre showed maximum improvement in mechanical properties. After alkali treatment, the fibrillation occurred and the surface of the fibres got finer contribute to the improvement in fibre-matrix adhesion, and result in enhancing the mechanical properties of composites. Furthermore, the increase of strength and aspect ratio in the treated fibres also improve those properties. In comparison with the untreated composites, approximately 13% improvement in tensile strength, 14% in flexural strength and 30% in impact strength had been found, respectively. SEM observations on the fracture surface of composites showed that the fibre-matrix adhesion had been improved after alkali treatment.
