am0c07448_si_001.pdf (2.53 MB)
Processed Bamboo as a Novel Formaldehyde-Free High-Performance Furniture Biocomposite
journal contribution
posted on 2020-06-26, 20:29 authored by 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 SonneWe
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.