INFLUENCE OF DYEING TREATMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BAMBOO-BASED FIBRE COMPOSITES

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of basic dye on colour change, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), shear strength (parallel loading), thickness swelling rate and water absorption rate of bamboo-based fibre composites from Phyllostachys pubescens. Oriented bamboo fibre mat was treated with Basic Brown G dye through three dyeing procedures, namely, in water at 20 degrees C, in water at 90 degrees C or in ethanol at 75 degrees C. Samples dyed in ethanol and water at 90 degrees C had higher exhaustion rates than those dyed in water at 20 degrees C. The colour change of oriented bamboo fibre mat dyed at 75 degrees C in ethanol was larger than that of samples dyed in water at both temperatures. Dyeing procedure slightly reduced the MOR, MOE and shear strength of bamboo-based fibre composites. Compared with samples dyed in water, samples dyed in ethanol had reduced shear strength and MOE. Thickness swelling rate and water absorption rate of bamboo-abased fibre composites samples increased after dyeing treatments.