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Oct 14, 2024

Scientists Develop Flame-Resistant, Superhydrophobic Transparent Bamboo - TechEBlog

Scientists, led by professors Yiqiang Wu and Caichao Wan from Central South University of Forestry and Technology (CSUFT), have developed an innovative transparent bamboo material. It consists of a

Scientists, led by professors Yiqiang Wu and Caichao Wan from Central South University of Forestry and Technology (CSUFT), have developed an innovative transparent bamboo material. It consists of a three-layered flame-retardant barrier that reduces heat release, thus slowing flame spread, and restraining the emission of combustible volatiles, toxic smoke, as well as carbon dioxide.

Since bamboo’s internal structure and chemical composition is very similar to wood, the researchers only need to remove the lignin before infusing it with an inorganic liquid sodium silicate, which changes the light refraction of the fibers to make it clear. It’s then treated to make the material superhydrophobic, or water-repelling. The resulting transparent bamboo has a light transmittance of 71.6%, is flame retardant, water-repellent, and capable of blocking smoke / carbon monoxide, complete with a bending modulus of 7.6 GPa. When used as a perovskite solar cell substrate, it served as a light management layer, boosting the cells’ power conversion efficiency by 15.29%.

Bamboo, often referred to as ‘the second forest’, boasts a fast growth and regeneration rate, allowing it to reach maturity and be utilized as a building material within 4 to 7 years of growth…with an output 4 times higher than wood per acre, bamboo is recognized for its exceptional efficiency,” said Caichao Wan, Professor at Central South University of Forestry and Technology (CSUFT).

[Sources 1 | 2]

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