Fabrication and Supercritical CO2-induced Microcellular Foaming Behavior of Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

CHEN Chen

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.13.017

PDF(11232 KB)

Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (13) : 148-155. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.13.017

Special Topic on Applications of High-Performance Fibers and Their Composites in Protection and Packaging

Fabrication and Supercritical CO₂-induced Microcellular Foaming Behavior of Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

CHEN Chen

Author information +

History +

Abstract

To address the issues of easy agglomeration and poor dispersion of bamboo fibers in the polypropylene (PP) matrix, the work aims to improve the foaming performance of PP, optimize the microstructure and comprehensive properties of composite foamed materials and provide a reference for the process optimization and application of plant fiber-modified foaming materials. Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composites were prepared via a papermaking beating method, and their properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing. By taking the composite with 40% bamboo fiber content as the research object, foamed materials were fabricated by a stepwise heating method with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂), and the effects of process parameters on the cell structure were investigated. Under the optimal process conditions of 195 °C and 15-20 MPa, the obtained foamed material exhibited uniform and dense cells, with a cell density of 1.45×10⁹ cells/cm³, an average cell size of 8.2 μm, and a narrow unimodal distribution. The papermaking beating method can effectively alleviate the agglomeration of bamboo fibers, and the bamboo fibers can play a favorable role as heterogeneous nucleation agents to optimize the foaming structure of polypropylene. Compared with the traditional melt blending method, the papermaking beating method can significantly enhance the dispersion uniformity of bamboo fibers at high content (≥40 wt%), effectively avoiding fiber agglomeration, thereby providing a more uniform distribution of nucleation sites for subsequent foaming. By regulating the foaming process, composite foamed materials with regular structure and stable performance can be fabricated.

Key words

supercritical CO₂ / PP / bamboo fiber / foaming / papermaking

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

CHEN Chen. Fabrication and Supercritical CO₂-induced Microcellular Foaming Behavior of Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(13): 148-155 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.13.017

References

[1] ZAFEIROPOULOS N E, BAILLIE C A, MATTHEWS F L.A Study of the Effect of Surface Treatments on the Thermal Stability of Flax Fibres[J]. Advanced Composites Letters, 2000, 9(4): 291-296.
[2] CANTERO G, ARBELAIZ A, LLANO-PONTE R, et al.Effects of Fibre Treatment on Wettability and Mechanical Behaviour of Flax/Polypropylene Composites[J]. Composites Science and Technology, 2003, 63(9): 1247-1254.
[3] ARBELAIZ A, FERNÁNDEZ B, CANTERO G, et al. Mechanical Properties of Flax Fibre/Polypropylene Composites. Influence of Fibre/Matrix Modification and Glass Fibre Hybridization[J]. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2005, 36(12): 1637-1644.
[4] CHATTOPADHYAY S K, KHANDAL R K, UPPALURI R, et al.Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites and Their Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2011,119(3): 1619-1626.
[5] WANG C,HE J M.Research Progress on Injection Molding of Wood-Plastic Composites[J]. Engineering Plastics Application, 2008, 36(6): 76-79.
[6] SUH K W, PARK C P, MAURER M J, et al.Lightweight Cellular Plastics[J]. Advanced Materials, 2000, 12(23): 1779-1789.
[7] CHI W K,XIE P C.Theory and Research Progress on Surface Quality Improvement of Microcellular Foamed Products[J]. Plastics, 2020, 49(1): 143-146.
[8] LIU J H, FANG C J, JIANG H Y, et al.Application Progress of Biodegradable Plastic Foams Prepared by Supercritical Fluid Foaming[J]. Engineering Plastics Application, 2024,52(4): 175-180.
[9] REVERCHON E, CARDEA S.Production of Controlled Polymeric Foams by Supercritical CO₂[J]. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2007, 40(1): 144-152.
[10] SIRIPURAPU S, GAY Y J, ROYER J R, et al.Generation of Microcellular Foams of PVDF and Its Blends Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide in a Continuous Process[J].Polymer, 2002, 43(20): 5511-5520.
[11] LU X Y, ALIDAN R Z H, SUN K, et al. Research Progress on Plant Cellulose-Based Foam Materials[J]. Functional Materials, 2025, 56(5): 5074-5085.
[12] TIAN F W, HUANG H Y, ZHAO D, et al.Research Progress on Physical Foaming of Biodegradable Polymers[J]. Materials Research and Application, 2026, 18(3): 369-386.
[13] SUN X H,CAI Y H,NIE X C, et al.Research Progress on Influencing Factors of Supercritical CO₂ Microcellular Foaming[J].Plastics Science and Technology,2012,40(9):103-107.
[14] NAGUIB H E, PARK C B, PANZER U, et al.Strategies for Achieving Ultra Low-Density Polypropylene Foams[J]. Polymer Engineering & Science, 2002, 42(7): 1481-1492.
[15] NAGUIB H E, PARK C B, REICHELT N.Fundamental Foaming Mechanisms Governing the Volume Expansion of Extruded Polypropylene Foams[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2004, 91(4): 2661-2668.
[16] POP-ILIEV R, RIZVI G M, PARK C B, et al.Processing of Polypropylene Foams in Melt-State Rotational Molding[J]. Polymer Engineering & Science, 2003, 43(7): 1347-1360.
[17] RACHTANAPUN P, SELKE S E M, MATUANA L M. Microcellular Foam of Polymer Blends of HDPE/PP and Their Composites with Wood Fiber[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2003, 88(12): 2842-2850.
[18] RACHTANAPUN P, SELKE S E M, MATUANA L M. Effect of Processing Conditions on the Cell Morphology of Polypropylene Foamed with Chemical Blowing Agent[J]. Polymer Engineering & Science, 2004, 44(8): 1551-1560.
[19] HUANG H X, WANG J K.Microcellular Foaming of Polypropylene/Glass Fiber Composites in a Combined Mold-Opening Injection Process[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2008, 106(1):505-513.
[20] ZHENG W G, LEE Y H, PARK C B.Use of Nanoparticles for Improving the Foaming Behaviors of Linear PP[J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2010,117(5): 2972-2979.
[21] HUANG H X, WANG J K, SUN X H.Visual Analysis of the Microcellular Foaming of Polypropylene/Glass Fiber Composites in a Mold-Opening Process[J].Journal of Cellular Plastics, 2006,44(1):69-85.
[22] SHEN J, ZENG C C, LEE L J.Synthesis of Polystyrene-Carbon Nanofibers Nanocomposite Foams[J]. Polymer, 2005, 46(14): 5218-5224.
[23] 赵嘉, 李忠, 钱元元, 等. 活化处理对竹纤维结构和性能的影响[J]. 化工新型材料, 2014, 42(7): 87-89.
ZHAO J, LI Z, QIAN Y Y, et al.Efluence of Activating Treatment on the Structure and Property of Bamboo Fiber[J]. New Chemical Materials, 2014, 42(7): 87-89.
[24] LEI Z G, OHYABU H, SATO Y, et al.Solubility, Swelling Degree and Crystallinity of Carbon Dioxide-Polypropylene System[J]. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2007, 40(3): 452-461.
[25] WANG G, DONG M Y, DENG H H, et al.Polypropylene Foaming Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: A Review on Fundamentals, Technology, and Applications[J]. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, 2024, 8(1): 84.
[26] 吴德洋, 毛家容, 毛良冬, 等. 超临界二氧化碳间歇式发泡法制备PP、PP/POE微孔发泡材料[J]. 塑料, 2023, 52(5): 167-172.
WU D Y, MAO J R, MAO L D, et al.PP and PP/POE Microcellular Foaming Materials Were Prepared by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Intermittent Foaming Method[J]. Plastics, 2023, 52(5): 167-172.