Processed Bamboo as a Novel Formaldehyde-Free High-Performance Furniture Biocomposite

  • Shengbo Ge
  • , Nyuk Ling Ma
  • , Shuaicheng Jiang
  • , Yong Sik Ok
  • , Su Shiung Lam
  • , Cheng Li
  • , Sheldon Qiang Shi
  • , Xu Nie
  • , Ying Qiu
  • , Dongli Li
  • , Qingding Wu
  • , Daniel C.W. Tsang
  • , Wanxi Peng
  • , Christian Sonne

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

98 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We used an innovative approach involving hot pressing, low energy consumption, and no adhesive to transform bamboo biomass into a natural sustainable fiber-based biocomposite for structural and furniture applications. Analyses showed strong internal bonding through mechanical "nail-like" nano substances, hydrogen, and ester and ether bonds. The biocomposite encompasses a 10-fold increase in internal bonding strength with improved water resistance, fire safety, and environmentally friendly properties as compared to existing furniture materials using hazardous formaldehyde-based adhesives. As compared to natural bamboo material, this new biocomposite has improved fire and water resistance, while there is no need for toxic adhesives (mostly made from formaldehyde-based resin), which eases the concern of harmful formaldehyde-based VOC emission and ensures better indoor air quality. This surpasses existing structural and furniture materials made by synthetic adhesives. Interestingly, our approach can 100% convert discarded bamboo biomass into this biocomposite, which represents a potentially cost reduction alternative with high revenue. The underlying fragment riveting and cell collapse binding are obviously a new technology approach that offers an economically and sustainable high-performance biocomposite that provides solutions to structural and furniture materials bound with synthetic adhesives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)30824-30832
Number of pages9
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
Volume12
Issue number27
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jul 2020

Keywords

  • bamboo
  • biocomposite
  • nanoidentation
  • pressure
  • sustainable

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science

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