Facile preparation of bamboo with improved hydrophobicity, dimensional stability and mold resistance by paraffin/tung oil modification

Even though bamboo has been extensively utilized in construction, furniture, and decoration, enhancing its hydrophobicity, dimensional stability, and mold resistance remain a significant challenge to this day. This research focused on creating bamboo that is hydrophobic, dimensionally stable, and resistant to mold through a high-pressure impregnation process using paraffin/tung oil which are environmentally friendly, inexpensive and water-repellent as modifiers. The results showed that scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of paraffin/tung oil modified bamboo (PT-B) showed that its transverse section was extensively coated by a large amount of paraffin/tung oil complex. PT-B reduced its water absorption by 29.54% compared with that of the untreated bamboo in the continuous 20-day water absorption test. PT-B achieved 74.75% of volume expansion resistance and 120° of water contact angle, respectively, along with excellent mold resistance performance in the 28-day anti-mold test. The research provides an innovative strategy for bamboo production, focusing on its hydrophobicity, dimensional stability, and mold resistance effect.