Influence of immersion weathering on the mechanical properties of rHDPE composites reinforced by bamboo fibres

Growing demands for housing, limiting natural resources, concern about plastic waste, and increasing awareness of the environment have drawn the modem world's attention to the recycling of waste plastics for the production of an alternative and sustainable building construction material. The paper aim to investigate the properties of natural fibre- reinforced composited for structural applications. The composites were developed by combining recycle high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) with bamboo fibre. The water absorption and tensile strength of the material were evaluated. Immersion in rainwater may cause negligible color change, whereas immersion in acidic solutions can result in discoloration or fading. In addition, bamboo fibre improves the tensile strength of composites. The greatest improvement was observed at 3% of BF. As BF percentage increased, these properties tend to be decreased, likely due to fibre agglomeration at higher loading ratios. However, when compared to the control sample, these properties exhibit significant improvement. The study highlighted the potential of rHDPE and bamboo fibers as products with added value for building construction from socio-eco and environmental perspectives.