Bamboo-inspired strong, tough and stable composites derived from renewable bamboo

Bamboo engineering materials are made from abundant raw material sources and can be easily prepared with minimal processing and low pollution. However, when used as structural materials, they are limited by their weight, strength, and lack of stable designability. The use of laminated structure and a gluing interface are key factors affecting the performance of bamboo engineering materials. Bamboo exhibits excellent toughness and strength when resisting external forces, with a multi-level interlocking reinforced interface with bamboo’s intercellular layer that induces an increase in crack deflection paths (internal toughening) and cell wall energy consumption (external toughening) coupled to microfibril pulling out. Inspired by the functionally graded structure of the lightweight and high-strength bamboo wall layer and the interlocking reinforced interface between vascular bundles and parenchyma cells, we designed a high-performance bamboo engineering material designed to imitate bamboo, Imitation Bamboo Bundle Laminated Veneer Lumber (IBLVL), prepared by uniform lamination and gradient molding. The designed IBLVL is light in weight, with high strength and uniform density. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using resource-rich and sustainable bamboo to manufacture light-weight bamboo engineering materials with high strength and high toughness that can be substituted for non-renewable resources in the fields of construction and transportation.