1 research outputs found
Tunable Physical-Mechanical Properties of Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Processing Bamboo Self-Bonding Composites by Adjusting Parenchyma Cell Content
Parenchyma cells (PCs) and bamboo fibers (BFs) are the
main component
units of natural bamboo. However, PCs have long been discarded as
waste during the industrial processing and utilization of bamboo,
i.e., papermaking, textile, and composites, because of their inferior
mechanical properties and higher hygroscopicity compared to the BFs.
Here, we proposed to mechanically separate PCs from BFs and subsequently
recombine them to generate formaldehyde-free bamboo self-bonding composites
(BSCs), which physical–mechanical properties were tuned for
the first time by adjusting the PC content. The PC effects were examined
on the formation and material properties of the BSCs in terms of microstructure
and physical–mechanical properties. Microscopic observation
revealed that PCs with a high cavity-to-cell wall ratio were more
likely to deform and bridge adjacent particles during hot pressing,
thus forming a dense interlocking structure with heat-sealed points
between the BFs. The inclusion of the PCs into the BSCs led to much
lower water absorption and thickness swelling than without the PCs.
The BSCs containing 40% BFs and 60% PCs had a thickness swelling of
13.3%, fulfilling the performance requirements of commercial high-density
fiberboards used in humid environments. The 40% BFs/60% PCs made BSCs
also exhibited the highest flexural strength, flexural modulus, and
internal bonding strength, increasing by 99.8, 60.8, and 189.9%, respectively,
compared with sole BF-made BSCs. The eco-friendly and formaldehyde-free
BSCs with tunable properties are promising for use in furniture, packaging,
and interior decorations