Assessing a method of bamboo treatment and its effects on the durability and mechanical performance

Abstract

Bamboo is a natural material having a fast reproduction and excellent mechanical properties. However, when a natural material in general and bamboo in particular are expected to be a construction material, their durability is always questionable. Indeed, it is well known that these materials do not possess the same performance at the long-term, comparing to industrial materials. A sustainable solution for the bamboo treatment still needs to be investigated. The present study explores the oil-heated treatment with different types of oils like flax or sunflower oils. The present investigation concentrates on mechanical properties and durability of treated bamboos, to assess the effectiveness of this treatment approach. First, bamboo specimens were treated with perspective to increase their durability. Eleven sets with different conditions of treatment were tested: treatment at 100°C or 180°C; with flax oil or sunflower oil, or without oil; treatment time of 1h, 2h or 3h; different cooling methods and cooling times. Then, mechanical and durability tests were carried out on untreated and treated bamboos: uniaxial compression tests, 3 points bending tests, water immersion tests and humidity tests. The results showed that some tested treatment method could increase both the durability and the compressive strength of treated specimens, compared to untreated bamboo.