Development of high-performance materials based on bamboo through densification process

• Grant number: 19/24253-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Holmer Savastano Junior
• Grantee: Marzieh Kadivar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Densification is a process in which the density of a material increases mainly by reducing the void volume. In the case of bamboo, this can be achieved by compressing bamboo in the direction perpendicular to the fibers through an open system, Thermo-Mechanical (TM), or a closed system Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM). The main aim of the densification is to decrease its heterogeneity and improve its mechanical and moisture sorption properties since the density and mechanical strength gradually change from outer to the inner layer along bamboo's wall thickness. Additionally, densification can occur during the hot-pressing operation needed for thermosetting adhesives of bamboo products manufacturing. Few investigations about bamboo densification have been carried out to date because of its hollow shape, which was a barrier for researchers to densify big bamboo pieces, and consequently, to consider densified bamboo as a product itself. Notwithstanding, the advent of novel technologies on bamboo flattening during the last decades can be an opportunity densifying this biomass resource on board format on a large scale. This study aims to densify bamboo, redesign its microstructure, decrease its heterogeneity, and consequently improve its mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. To create a high-performance material (densified bamboo) from natural bamboo, understanding the material behavior during the process is mandatory. Based on the primary obtained results, densification process enhances bamboo mechanical properties (in bending). However, some physical properties such as dimension stability, swelling and water absorption has shown to be sacrificed using low temperature. In addition, the densification process has no influence on chemical components of bamboo at temperature lower than 160°C. It was concluded from obtained results that the effectiveness of densification is governed by several factors, which need to be optimized. Therefore, optimization in terms of moisture content, pressing temperature, rate, and compressive pressure will be performed. An experimental method for advanced understanding of stress-strain relationship in transverse compression of bamboo at elevated temperature by simultaneously observing the cellular deformation will be developed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

KADIVAR, MARZIEH; GAUSS, CHRISTIAN; GHAVAMI, KHOSROW; SAVASTANO, HOLMER. Densification of Bamboo: State of the Art. MATERIALS, v. 13, n. 19, OCT 2020. (19/24253-1, 16/26022-9)

KADIVAR, MARZIEH; GAUSS, CHRISTIAN; TOMAZELLO-FILHO, MARIO; AHRAR, AMIR JAVAD; GHAVAMI, KHOSROW; SAVASTANO, HOLMER. Optimization of thermo-mechanical densification of bamboo. CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, v. 298, SEP 6 2021. (19/24253-1, 20/00827-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

KADIVAR, Marzieh. Development of high performance materials based on bamboo through densification process. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT) Pirassununga.