Polymers (Jun 2021)

Morphological Analysis of Several Bamboo Species with Potential Structural Applications

  • Asier Elejoste,
  • Alfonso Arevalillo,
  • Nagore Gabilondo,
  • Amaia Butron,
  • Cristina Peña-Rodriguez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13132126
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 13
p. 2126

Abstract

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Bamboo constitutes a family of plants that are very promising and interesting as renewable materials for both large and small structure construction. To be used as an alternative to traditional materials; the understanding of its morphology and mechanical behavior is of crucial importance. As the distribution of fibers and vascular bundles differs for each type of bamboo; several bamboo types have been characterized: Phyllostachys aurea (PA), Arundinaria amabilis (AA) and Dendrocalamus strictus (DS). Morphological analysis has been performed by optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differences in density; surface morphology and wall thickness have been found. In fact; PA and AA have shown a great morphological regularity; while DS presents the greatest thickness; to the point that it can be considered full culm. The plant’s own ducts constitute a very important factor for future impregnations and the optimization of mechanical properties for structure construction.

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