The Study on Bamboo Microfibers Isolated by Steam Explosion and Their Comprehensive Properties

To overcome the shortage of wood resources as well as to develop novel natural fibers materials, the Chimonobambusa quadrangularis (CQ) and Qiongzhuea tumidinoda (QT) planted in Southwest China were effectively isolated by the steam explosion (SE). The fine and uniform bamboo microfibers derived from CQ and QT were obtained, and their smallest average widths were 12.62 μm and 16.05 μm, respectively. The effects of steam explosion on the micro-morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability, crystallinity, surface wettability, and mechanical properties of bamboo microfibers were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that the relative content of cellulose in bamboo microfibers increased but the hemicellulose and lignin contents decreased after SE. The degrees of crystallinity for CQ and QT increased from 40.49% and 39.46% to 68.90% and 55.78%, respectively. The thermal stability and surface hydrophilicity were also improved. The CQ microfibers had a maximum decomposition temperature of 2.79°C, a tensile strength of 58.54 MPa, an elongation at break of 0.6%, and a water contact angle of 2.7° higher than those of the QT microfibers.