Functionalized Modification of Bamboo: Advances in Flame Retardancy, Hydrophobicity, and Antimicrobial Performance

Abstract Amidst global advocacy for green development, bamboo has emerged as a promising renewable alternative to plastics and conventional timber due to its rapid growth, sustainability, and eco‐friendly attributes. However, inherent limitations—including poor flame retardancy, inadequate hydrophobicity, susceptibility to insect/microbial infestation, fiber degradation, compromised mechanical properties, and reduced service life—constrain its broad applications. Recent advancements through integrated physical–chemical modification approaches (e.g., thermal treatment, compression, alkaline processing, and graft polymerization) have substantially enhanced bamboo's performance. This review systematically synthesizes research on bamboo functionalization from 2016 to 2025. Within theoretical frameworks of materials chemistry and interface science, three predominant modification strategies—flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, and antimicrobial efficacy— are comparatively analyzed elucidating their mechanistic principles and performance correlations. Critical findings highlight that multiscale collaborative modifications (e.g., bioenzyme‐nanofiller‐hydrogel synergies) and green modifying agents (e.g., rosin, tannic acid) represent key breakthroughs to overcome current technical bottlenecks. These innovations not only expand bamboo's applicability in harsh environments but also establish novel paradigms for functionalized biomass material design, offering significant ecological and economic benefits in alignment with carbon neutrality goals.