Abstract

ALTEZ BASALDUA, Ana Gabriela; CARDENAS OSCANOA, Aldo Joao; ARAUJO FLORES, Martín  and  SULBARAN RANGEL, Belkis Coromoto. Fungal rot effect on physical and mechanical properties of the bamboo-polypropylene composite. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.62, pp.55-88.  Epub Feb 19, 2021. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v11i62.757.

Biodegradation resistance of a bamboo-polypropylene composite was evaluated through exposure to two fungi: white-rot Pycnoporus sanguineus and brown-rot Rhodonia placenta (synonym: Postia placenta) for 16 weeks, according to the ASTM D2017-05 norm. Effect of biodegradation on the physical properties of density, absorption and swelling, and mechanical properties of bending, traction and impact were also assessed. The composite was made by extrusion and compression molding using bamboo particles of Guadua angustifolia of two ASTM mesh sizes (40/60 and 60/80) at two bamboo / polypropylene ratios (30/70 and 50/50) and 2 % polypropylene maleic anhydride (MAPP) as a coupling agent. It was probed that the bamboo-polypropylene composite was susceptible to biodegradation by white- and brown-rot fungi; the formulation with smaller proportion of bamboo particles (30 %) exhibited a higher resistance to it. The physical properties of anhydrous density, absorption and swelling and the mechanical properties of static bending and traction were inversely affected by exposure to P. sanguineus and R. placenta, and white and brown rot fungi did not affect the impact property.

Keywords : Biodegradation; Guadua angustifolia Kunth; rot fungi; composites; physical properties and mechanical properties.

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