Porosity of Chitosan and Cassava Starch Matrix Composites Reinforced with Bamboo Fiber.

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effect of volume fraction variations on the porosity level of composites made from a chitosan and cassava starch matrix reinforced with bamboo fibers. The combination of these two matrices was selected to harness the biodegradability of cassava starch and the mechanical strength of chitosan, while bamboo fiber serves as an eco-friendly natural reinforcement. Porosity testing was conducted in accordance with ASTM D792-00 by calculating the theoretical and actual density of the test specimens. The results showed that the highest porosity value occurred at a volume fraction of 85% matrix to 15% fiber, with an average of 93.92%, while the lowest was at 90% matrix to 10% fiber, averaging 91.87%. The high porosity was attributed to non-homogeneous mixing and suboptimal matrix viscosity. In general, higher actual density results in lower porosity values. This study demonstrates that volume fraction composition plays a crucial role in influencing the internal structure and physical quality of composites based on natural materials.