Bamboo and Wood Fibers/MMT Hybrid Nanocomposites

In this research, bamboo and wood fibers were used a reinforcement to fabricate the nanocomposite, while montmorillonite (MMT) is used as nanofiller. Bamboo and wood fiber contain constituents of cellulose, which had a high strength property. However, the hydroxyl group attached on to the cellulose chain made the bamboo and wood fiber hydrophilic, which weaken the interfacial bonding. Henceforth, bamboo and wood fiber surface treatment were needed to improve its morphological and mechanical properties. Surface treatment was done before the fabrication of the nanocomposite, which was during the fiber’s extraction process. For the fabrication of hybrid nanocomposite process, Design Expert software was used to determine the optimum MMT, bamboo, and wood fiber ratio, which was known as the response surface methodology (RSM). The highest modulus of rapture (MOR) value was achieved at 15.8008 MPa for the nanocomposite with the weight percentage of 7wt% wood fiber, 7wt% bamboo fiber, 10wt% MMT and 76wt% PLA. As for the modulus of elasticity (MOE), the highest value obtained was at 0.08 GPa, which has the weight percentage of 6.03wt% for wood fiber, 4.5wt% for bamboo fiber, 1wt% for MMT and 88.47wt% for PLA. The morphological properties of the nanocomposites were studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) equipment, which illustrated the interfacial reaction that occur in the nanocomposite.