Surface Properties of Micro Whiskers from Superheated Steam Treated Bamboo and Antistatic Properties of Composites with Polypropylene

In order to develop antistatic composites consisting of bamboo micro-whiskers (B mu F) and polypropylene (PP), surface properties of superheated steam (SHS)-treated materials were analyzed to find good hydrophobicity by mainly lignin coating. The SHS-treated B mu F contributed to decrease in surface-resistivity of composites compared to volume-resistivity. Moreover, the composites including expandable graphite (EG) as a flame-retardant showed excellent antistatic properties. Although addition of a compatibilizer [maleic anhydride-modified PP (MAPP)1 suppressed the antistatic effect of B mu F, synergistic antistatic effect of B mu F/EG overcame the suppression effect, resulting in a composite B mu F/PP/EG/MAPP having good antistatic properties as well as flame-resistance and good mechanical properties.