Conversion of Bamboo\ninto Strong, Waterproof, and\nBiodegradable Thermosetting Plastic through Cell Wall Structure Directed\nManipulation

Reckoning with the global environmental\nchallenge of\nplastic pollution,\nparticularly in terms of recycling and biodegradation of thermosetting\nplastics, sustainable alternatives are imperative. The rapidly growing\nand eco-friendly material bamboo has great potential as a sustainable\nresource; however, it lacks the inherent self-bonding and plasticity\ncharacteristics found in plastics. This study presents a feasible\napproach to enhance the plasticity of bamboo by selectively removing\npart of its lignin and disrupting the crystalline structure of cellulose.\nConcurrently, this process selectively transforms hydroxyl groups\ninto highly reactive dialdehyde groups to increase the reactivity\nof bamboo. The resulting activated bamboo units undergo a hot-pressing\nprocess to transform them into a type of thermosetting plastic (ABTP).\nThe ABTP is highly moldable, and its color can be precisely regulated\nby adjusting the lignin content. Additionally, it exhibits exceptional\nsolvent and water resistance, along with notable mechanical properties,\nincluding a tensile strength of 50 MPa, flexural strength of 80 MPa,\nflexural modulus of 5 GPa, and Shore D hardness approaching 90. Furthermore,\nthe bamboo-derived plastic exhibits exceptional reusability and biodegradability,\npresenting feasible and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional\nplastics while harnessing the sustainable development potential of\nbamboo.