Bamboo delignification is a common method for studying its functional value-added applications. In this study, bamboo samples were delignified by treatment with sodium chlorite. The effects of this treatment on the bamboo’s microstructure, surface chemical composition, and pyrolysis behaviour were evaluated. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted to evaluate these parameters. The FTIR results demonstrated that the lignin peak decreased or disappeared, and some hemicellulose peaks decreased, indicating that sodium chlorite treatment effectively removed lignin and partly decomposed hemicellulose, although cellulose was less affected. The XPS results showed that, after treatment, the oxygen-to-carbon atomic ratio of delignified bamboo increased from 0.34 to 0.45, indicating a lack of lignin. XRD revealed increased crystallinity in delignified bamboo. Further pyrolysis analysis of treated and untreated bamboo showed that, although the pyrolysis stage of the delignified bamboo did not change, the maximum thermal degradation rate (R_max) and its corresponding temperature (from 353.78 to 315.62 °C) decreased significantly, indicating that the pyrolysis intensity of the bamboo was weakened after delignification. Overall, this study showed that delignified bamboo develops loose surfaces, increased pores, and noticeable fibres, indicating that alkali-treated bamboo has promising application potential due to its novel and specific functionalities.

As a new type of green environmental protection material for outdoor use, the water resistance of bamboo scrimber composite (BSC) is crucial—the primary reason for a decrease in water resistance being bonding interface failure. From a bonding interface structure perspective, the influence mechanism of the resin content and density on the water resistance of BSCs remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, BSCs were prepared using Moso bamboo and phenol-formaldehyde resin, and the changes in the macroscopic and microscopic bonding interfaces before and after 28-h water-resistance tests were observed and analyzed. The results showed that the water resistance of the BSC increased with increasing resin content, with higher thickness swelling rates (TSRs) observed at higher densities. Obvious cracks were found at the macroscopic interface after 28-h tests, with higher resin contents leading to fewer and smaller cracks. With increasing density, the longitudinal fissures due to defibering process decreased, having an effect on width swelling rates (WSRs). Furthermore, porosity measurements revealed changes in the microscopic bonding interface; the difference in porosity before and after testing (D-value) showed the same trend as water resistance. Generally, we conclude that the macroscopic and microscopic bonding interface structures are closely related to BSC water resistance.

Surface photostability strongly influences the usefulness of bamboo and bamboo-based polymer composites in outdoor environments. In this study, accelerated aging tests were conducted to investigate how UV irradiation affects the color, surface appearance, and chemical characteristics of outdoor bamboo-fiber-reinforced composite (OBFRC) prepared from moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) by a three-step process involving phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin impregnation. The surface color of natural bamboo (NB) changes rapidly during irradiation, but that of OBFRC remains relatively stable: densification mitigates the negative effects of UV irradiation. More generally, OBFRC exhibits enhanced surface photostability caused by structural and chemical modifications.

Compared with wood, bamboo has a special fiber gradient structure. Bamboo fibers have attracted attention as reinforced polymer composites. This study investigated the effects of lamination and fiber volume on the physical and mechanical properties of bamboo laminated composites (BLCs). Six types of BLC were derived by parallel and cross laminating bamboo veneers with high, middle, and low fiber volumes. The results indicated that the laminated structure and fiber volume significantly influenced the BLC properties. Microstructural analysis showed that parallel lamination and low fiber volume were more conducive to resin penetration and enhanced the bonding strength. Both the bending and tensile strengths of the cross lamination were lower than those of the parallel lamination. BLCs made of veneers with high and middle fiber volumes and parallel lamination had the maximum bending and tensile strengths (145.1 and 101.53 MPa, respectively). When tested for water resistance, parallel and cross lamination inhibited expansion in the thickness (TSR, 0.56–2.14%) and width (WSR, 0.07–1.61%) directions, respectively. Laminated structures and veneers with varying fiber volume contents should be chosen according to the specific application scenarios. This study provides a reference for selecting an appropriate BLC structure and fiber volume based on application.

Thermophysical molding (TPM) treatments can significantly improve the surface properties of thick wood veneer. To understand the effects of TPM treatments on the surface properties of thick veneer, the roughness, contact angles, and chemical changes were determined. The results indicated that the roughness of the thick veneer decreased when the temperature and the duration increased. The contact angles decreased when the temperature increased, resulting in better wettability. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) results provided information about the significant chemical changes in the surface with different TPM temperatures of 160–190 °C and durations of 5–11 min. Increases in temperature and duration increased the C content and decreased the O content during the treatment process. The most significant changes in the thick veneer that resulted from increasing the temperature and the duration were the increase in the C1 component and the decrease in the C2 component. Thus, the oxygen to carbon (O/C) ratio decreased and the ratio of aromatic carbon to aliphatic carbon (C1/C2) notably increased with the increasing TPM temperature. The TPM duration slightly affected the O/C ratio, but it had a stronger linear relation with the C1/C2 ratio. Additionally, the C1/C2 ratio and the O/C ratio had a linear statistical relationship with the initial wettability. These findings could provide useful information for the future utilization of thick veneers treated with TPM.