Thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposites based on a cashew nut shell liquid matrix reinforced with bamboo fibers

Cardanol-formaldehyde thermoset resin was reinforced with raw and chemically modified fibers of bamboo (Bambusoideae). Modified fibers were treated with alkali solutions of NaOH (5% and 10%) and bleached with sodium hypochlorite NaClO/H2O (1:1) at 60?-75?. The biocomposites were fabricated with a hand lay-up technique. This study investigated the fibers microstructure before and after alkali treatment, as the interaction between matrix and reinforce by scanning electron microscopy. The Fourier transform infrared spectra allowed the identification of characteristic stretching frequencies attributed to the methyl groups of lignin. A considerable increase in thermal stability was observed in the materials studied, which was verified by thermogravimetric analysis and confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The tensile tests showed that the mechanical properties (tensile modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break) of bamboo fibers improved after alkali treatment, as well as the increase in the biodegradation in simulated soil, showing that the alkaline treatment acted removing the macro components of the fibers (lignin and hemicellose), making them more susceptible to the action of microorganisms.