Abstract: Polycaprolactone (PCL)/bamboo fiber (BF) composites were prepared through a compression molding method and their thermal aging properties were studied. The effects of thermal aging time and temperature and the content of BF on the thermal aging properties of the composites were evaluated by mechanical tests, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis and rheological analysis. The results indicated that the decrement in mechanical properties of PCL/BF composites after aging decreased as the content of BF increased initially and increased afterwards. The mechanical properties also decreased with increasing thermal aging temperature and time. The occurrence of thermal oxidation may lead to the decomposition of macromolecular groups inside the composites as well as the hydrolysis of the hydrophilic groups in PCL. In addition, the storage modulus and loss modulus of the composites tended to increase with an increase of thermal aging temperature and time.

Key words: bamboo fiber, polycaprolactone, composite, thermal aging property