Effects of thermal treatment and hot pressing on internal pores, micro- and macro-mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2025-01, Vol.458, p.139461, Article 139461
• Main Authors: Guan, Shanyue, Zong, Xiangyu, Zhao, Jiucheng, Tian, Liya, Wang, Shunbo, Wang, Zhaoxin, Ai, Ying, Zhang, Shizhong, Zhao, Hongwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bamboo scrimber; Hot-pressing; Mechanical properties; Thermal treatment; μ-CT
• ISSN: 0950-0618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.139461

With the increasing demand for sustainable materials, bamboo, as a fast-growing renewable resource, is gaining attention. Bamboo scrimber, enhanced through hot-pressing and thermal treatment, has the potential to replace traditional building materials due to its improved mechanical properties. However, the effects of different processing techniques on the macro- and microscopic mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber are not yet fully understood. This study investigates the macro- and microscopic mechanical properties of four types of bamboo scrimber produced via different processing methods. Through μ-CT scanning, the internal pore distribution and crack propagation during tensile testing were analyzed. Nanoindentation testing was conducted using a custom-developed instrument, and hardness and elastic modulus maps of the bamboo scrimber’s microstructure were obtained. Additionally, SEM was used to characterize the fracture surfaces. The results show that increasing hot-pressing pressure significantly improves the density and mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber, and high-temperature thermal treatment improves water resistance but reduces toughness. These findings provide scientific guidance for optimizing bamboo scrimber production and selecting materials for different applications. •The effect of thermal treatment and hot-pressing on the internal pore are characterized with X-ray microscopy.•The effects of internal pore distribution on the tensile behavior and crack propagation were analyzed.•The micro-mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber were investigated through indentation tests.