Bamboo structural composites for marine applications

Bamboo laminates are made from bamboo strips (slivers) milled out from the bamboo wall core. The use of natural bamboo fibre in composites is on the rise. In the present study, the overall mechanical characteristics of bamboo fibres reinforced composites and sandwich for general marine applications were analysed. An accurate analysis of processing possibilities and statements has been conducted, evaluating the relationship between composites performances and processing characteristics. The effectiveness of vacuum bagging and compression moulding processes were analysed. Accurate chemical – physical and mechanical characterizations of bamboo based reinforced resins (epoxy) were conducted, analyzing also the variation of these properties during the materials ageing. Accelerate ageing tests were conducted on bamboo composites and sandwich specimens, obtaining the relationship between materials characteristics and ageing time. Finally, absorption tests (in distillate and sea water) were performed to simulate the effective environment in which bamboo based composites have to be applied, denoting that bamboo composites exhibit excellent resistance to the marine environment and their applications could make good inroads in the marine sector worldwide. As application, a spinnaker pole have been realised and tested under axial compression load.