Journal of Scientific Research in Physical & Mathematical Science

Volume (2) Issue (5) Year (2015)

ISSN: 2349-7149

MECHANICAL AND SURFACE

STUDIES OF BAMBOO FIBRE
EXTRACTED BY DIFFERENT
METHODS
Navin ChandA* and Gaurav TamrakarB
A
Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute,
Bhopal 462026, India
B
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal
462051, India

ABSTRACT
Bamboo fibres are having advantages such as low cost, low density,
ecologically friendly, sustainability and biodegradability. The purpose of this study
is of extracting the bamboo fibre by using alkali treatment, steam blasting and alkali
treatment followed by steam blasting, and to characterize them for their mechanical
and surface characteristics. Strength, elongation and surface properties of extracted
bamboo fibres were measured. Microstructures were observed by using Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM).

Keywords: Bamboo fibre, strength, steam blasting, SEM.

Received: 9 May 2015 Accepted: 19 May 2015 Published: 31 May 2015

Corresponding author: navinchand15@yahoo.co.in

N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 2

1. INTRODUCTION
Bamboo exhibited different properties in different directions due to the basic
structural difference present in the two perpendicular directions. Recently (Chand et al.,
2008) reported strength of strip of bamboo experimentally determined in two directions
parallel to the fibre direction and perpendicular to the fibre direction. (Amada et al.,
1997) observed the fibre texture in bamboo. Stress and strain values of bamboo under
tensile loads are validated using the Finite Element Method (FEM) (Chand et al., 2008).
Bamboo is a natural composite in which cellulose bers acts as a reinforcement for
lignin along the length of the bamboo culms and provide the strength in that direction
(Espiloy, 1991; Chand and Fahim, 2008; Chand and Rohatgi, 1994; Shinand Yipp,
1989). Cellulose and hemicellulose present in bamboo are in the form of hollocellulose,
which contribute more than 50% of the total chemical content present in it (Coutts and
Tobias,1994; Espiloy, 1991) studied the effect of age on the physico-mechanical
properties of Philippine bamboo.

Several bamboo-polymer composites have been developed and characterized in

the recent past, (Bansal and Zoolagud, 2002; Jain, Kumar and Jindal, 1992; Jain, 1986;
Das and Chakraborty, 2006; Das and Chakraborty, 2006, Das and Chakraborty, 2008;
Das, Pal and Chakraborty, 2006; Okubo, Fujii and Yamamoto, 2004)

In a recent paper Chand et al., 2010) published the variation of dc conductivity

with distance from centre to periphery in bamboo was proposed and a model was
published. Theory was validated with experimentation.

In order to extract quality fibre from bamboo some treatments such as alkali
treatment, steam blasting and alkali treatment followed by steam blasting have been
attempted. Properties and micro structure of fibres obtained from different treatments
have been determined.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following different methods are used for fibre extraction from bamboo
(Dendrocalamus strictus). In the chemical extraction method, chemical used was of
commercial grade NaOH. Solution of 10 wt% NaOH concentration in water was
prepared. Strips were dipped in that solution for 120 min. Different temperatures 600C
and 800C of bath were maintained. In steam blasting method, bamboo fibre was extracted
by steam blasting of strips for two different time periods namely 15 and 30 min.

In alkali treatment followed by steam blasting method of extraction of bamboo

fibre, extraction was done by dipping of bamboo strips for 120 minutes in 10 wt%

J. Sci. Res. Phys. Math. Sci. Vol. 2(5),

N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 3

NaOH concentration solution in water at a temperature of 600C and then steam blasting
for 15, 30 and 45 minutes.

3. TENSILE TESTING

Tensile testing of extracted fibres was done on a Tinius Olsen tensile tester, model
H25KT. Tests were performed at a speed of 10 mm/min. Gauge length was kept 50 mm.

4. SURFACE OBSERVATION

The Scanning Electron Microscope, JEOL 35 CF was used to observe the micro
structural changes, which occurred in fibre with different extraction processes.

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Tensile strength values tested at 10 mm/min of extracted bamboo fibres obtained

through different treatments and untreated bamboo fibre are listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Tensile values of treated and untreated bamboo fibre

Average elongation Average tensile strength

S. No. Name of Sample
(%) (N/mm2)

1 Untreated Bamboo fibre 8.9 157.7

Extreacted bamboo fibre

2 after dipping in NaOH for 6.0 84.5
120 min at 60 deg. C

Extreacted bamboo fibre

3 after dipping in NaOH for 5.27 78.4
120 min at 80 deg. C

Extreacted bamboo fibre

4 after steam blasting for 3.46 276.2
15min
Extreacted bamboo fibre
5 after steam blasting for 3.1 633.8
30min
Fibre extracted after dipping
6 in alkali and steam blasting 0.85 324.3
for 15 min.

J. Sci. Res. Phys. Math. Sci. Vol. 2(5),

N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 4

Fibre extracted after dipping

7 in alkali and steam blasting - 730.2
for 30 min.
Fibre extracted after dipping
8 in alkali and steam blasting 0.84 523.5
for 45 min.

Bamboo fibres obtained from an untreated bamboo strip exhibited 157.7 MPa and
8.0 tensile strength and % elongation respectively. The tensile strength is higher as
compared to thick bamboo strip (1). This is due to absence of node and presence of
bonding chemicals. Table1 shows that NaOH treatment carried out at high temperatures
reduced the strength due to dissolving of bonding chemicals such as lignin and creation
of defects. Increase of treatment of treatment temperature further reduced the strength of
extracted bamboo fibre. Bamboo fibre extracted through the steam blasting imparted
higher strength and low elongation. This increase in strength is due to intact fibre
structure and removal of small molecular weight chemicals. Bamboo fibre extracted
through chemical treatment followed by 30 min steam blasting gave highest strength 730
MPa.

Table 2 lists the tensile strength and elongation results of alkali treated followed by
30 min steam blasted bamboo fibres tested at different speeds 10, 20 and 30 mm/min.

Table 2: Tensile results of alkali treated followed by steam blasted for 30 min

bamboo fibre tested at different test speeds

Cross head speed Elongation Tensile strength

Sample
(mm/min) (%) (N/mm2)
alkali treated
followed by steam
10 3.9 730.2
blasted for 30 min
bamboo fibre
alkali treated
followed by steam
20 1.43 620.1
blasted for 30 min
bamboo fibre
alkali treated
followed by steam
30 2.9 609.4
blasted for 30 min
bamboo fibre

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N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 5

Figs. 1-4 show the SEM microstructures of bamboo fibres obtained from an
untreated bamboo strip, extracted through alkali treatment, steam blasting and through
alkali treatment followed by steam blasting respectively.

Figs. 4a-c show the SEM surfaces of bamboo fibres obtained through chemical
treatment followed by 15, 30 and 45 minutes of steam blasting.

During changing the speed of testing, for alkali treated followed by steam blasting
for 30 mins bamboo fibre, tensile strengths values were found to be 730,620 and 609
MPa for 10, 20 and 30 mm/min speeds respectively. Increase in speed of testing
decreased the tensile strength due to removal of bonding and creation of gaps in the
structure of fibre, which could not take more load at high speeds.

Fig. 1 SEM Image of fibre from untreated Bamboo Strip

Fig. 1 shows the surface microstructure of fibre from untreated bamboo strip. Fracture
surface shows that cell width varies from 20 -40m. Cell length varies from 20-60 m.
Cells fractured during extraction of fibres.

Fig. 2 SEM Image of alkali extracted Bamboo Fibre

J. Sci. Res. Phys. Math. Sci. Vol. 2(5),

N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 6

Fig. 2 shows the surface microstructure of fibre from alkali treated bamboo strip. Surface
shows partial fracture and removal of bonding during extraction.

Fig. 3 SEM Image of 45 minutes steam blasted Bamboo Fibre

Fig. 3 shows the surface microstructure of fibre from steam blasting the bamboo strip.
Surface shows partial separation of fibres and removal of some material during
extraction.

Fig. 4 SEM Image of alkali treatment followed by steam blasting Bamboo Fibre

Fig. 4 shows the surface microstructure of fibre from alkali treatment followed by steam
blasted bamboo fibre the bamboo strip. Fracture surface shows complete separation of
fibres and removal of some material during extraction. SEM of alkali treated and steam
blasted sample shows that separation of lignin and fibres but proper extraction of fibre is
not possible through either alkali treatment or steam blasting. A combination of alkali
treatment and steam blasting was also attempted. Alkali treatment followed by steam
blasting for different time period for extracting bamboo fibres show different micro
structural behaviour

J. Sci. Res. Phys. Math. Sci. Vol. 2(5),

N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 7

Fig. 4a SEM Image of Alkali Treatment followed by Steam Blasting Bamboo

Fibre of 15 minute Steam Blasting

Fig. 4.b SEM Image of Alkali Treatment followed by Steam Blasting Bamboo
Fibre of 30 minute Steam Blasting

Fig. 4c SEM Image of Alkali Treatment followed by steam blasting bamboo fibre of
45 minute steam blasting

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N. Chand & G. Tamrakar 8

Fig. 4a shows SEM of alkali treated followed by steam blasted for 15 minutes
bamboo fibre shows proper channels of fibres, but some part of lignin are not separated.
Fig. 4b shows SEM of fibres, alkali treated followed by steam blasted for 30 minutes.
Better result is found as compared to the previous fibre. Fig. 4 c shows SEM of samples,
alkali treated followed by steam blasted for 45 minutes. Samples completely cracked and
fibres are extracted in small size .In both the cases of fibre extraction by alkali treatment
followed by 30 and 45 min hygro thermal treatment show improvement in uniformity in
fibre surface. These different methods of fibre extraction give different characteristic
fibres. Bamboopolymer composites are in great demand for external applications.
Fibres extracted by these methods have uniform surfaces and high strength values. It is
expected that these fibres will have potential engineering applications in future.

6. Conclusions

The experimental results show that fibre extracted by alkali treatment followed by
steam blasting attains the best mechanical strength as well as uniform micro structure
amongst all the fibres extracted using treatments such as steam blasting, alkali treatment
and alkali treatment followed by steam blasting.

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