Processed bamboo as a novel formaldehyde-free high-performance furniture bio-composite.

We used an innovative approach involving hot pressing, low energy consumption, and no adhesive to transform bamboo biomass into a natural sustainable fiber-based bio-composite for structural and furniture applications. Analyses showed strong internal bonding through mechanical "nail-like" nano substances, hydrogen, and ester and ether bonds. The bio-composite encompasses a 10-fold increase in internal bonding strength with improved water resistance, fire safety, and environmental friendly properties compared to existing furniture materials using hazardous formaldehyde-based adhesives. Compared to natural bamboo material, this new bio-composite have improved fire and water resistance while there is no need for toxic adhesives (mostly made from formaldehyde-based resin), easing the concern of harmful formaldehyde-based VOC emission and ensuring better indoor air quality. This surpass existing structural and furniture materials made by synthetic adhesives. Interestingly, our approach can 100% convert discarded bamboo biomass into this bio-composite, representing a potentially cost reduction alternative with high revenue. Te underlying fragment riveting and cell collapse binding are obviously a new technology approach which offers an economically and sustainable high-performance bio-composite that provides solutions to structural and furniture materials bound with synthetic adhesives.