Manufacturing of bamboo hybrids with high strength, superior fire retardancy, and dimensional stability

IRG/WP 24-30808

W He, Rui Wang, W Li, G Hu, T Singh, Q Fu

Bamboo, renowned for its rapid growth, high strength-to-weight ratio, and eco-friendly attributes, has found extensive use in decorative building materials and glue-laminated beams. However, the inherent challenges of dimensional instability and flammability in natural bamboo restrict its broad application. This research introduces a range of environmentally friendly techniques aimed at producing functional bamboo hybrids with exceptional strength, outstanding dimensional stability, and flame-retardant properties. These hybrids are developed through processes including bamboo delignification, in-situ mineralization of CaCO3, and hot-pressing following impregnation with phenolic resin. The resulting bamboo hybrids exhibit highly aligned and densified nanocellulose stacking, fostering impressive tensile strength (583.6 MPa), flexural strength (374.8 MPa), and an exceptional specific strength of 486.3 MPa·cm3·g-1. This specific strength surpasses that of reported bamboo materials and many structural materials. The enhanced dimensional stability of the bamboo hybrids is attributed to the impregnation of phenolic resin and CaCO3 mineralization, contributing to improved hydrophobicity. In comparison to natural bamboo, the bamboo hybrid demonstrates a 37.7% reduction in total heat release and a 50.0% decrease in smoke production rate. This study presents an environmentally conscious processing strategy for manipulating and functionalizing bamboo's microstructure, resulting in materials with high strength, superior fire-retardancy, and dimensional stability. The potential applications span diverse fields, including structural construction, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing.


Keywords: biocomposite, delignification, glulamination, mineralized hybrids, phenolic resin

Conference: 24-05-19/23 Knoxville, USA


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