Boosted Flexibility and Densification of Bamboo Weaving Enabling Mold-Adaptive Manufacturing of High-Performance Bamboo-Based Composites

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-10-2026

Abstract

The integration of natural bamboo fibers into low-carbon structural composites offers considerable environmental benefits; however, challenges arise due to the unique structure and high stiffness of bamboo, which complicate its incorporation into conventional fiber-reinforced composite manufacturing processes. This study introduces a novel hydrothermal treatment combined with hot press drying strategy (HT-HP) to produce flexible and densified bamboo weaving rapidly. This method facilitated the creation of a bamboo woven composite (HT/PT-C) via vacuum infusion, achieving an impressive bamboo fiber mass fraction of approximately 75%. The HT-HP strategy enhanced the bamboo weaving's flexibility and compactness, enabling efficient production of shaped paving materials. The optimized HT/PT-C exhibited remarkable mechanical properties, with a 45% increase in tensile strength (143 MPa) and a 28% increase in flexural strength (206 MPa) compared to the control composite. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated a 57.4% increase in storage modulus and improved creep resistance. Investigations using digital image correlation, micro-morphology analysis, and surface energy measurements revealed that these enhancements were due to the self-pre-tensioning effect and reduced surface energy of the bamboo strips post-treatment. Life Cycle Assessment indicates that the scalable HT/PT-C composite presents a sustainable alternative to carbon or glass fiber-reinforced composites, promoting low-carbon engineering in structural applications.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Polymer Composites

First Page

4685

Last Page

4698

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