Feasibility of one-time drying for manufacturing bamboo scrimber: fresh bamboo bundle at high initial moisture content impregnated by PF

Optimization of drying process can increase the efficiency of bamboo scrimber manufacture, and remarkably reduce the energy consumption, which contributes to the sustainable development of bamboo in agricultural planting. In this work, fresh bamboo bundles with different initial moisture content (40%, 55%, 70%) were directly impregnated by phenolic resin (PF) followed by a one-time drying method to prepare bamboo scrimber. The distribution of PF, the pore structure of impregnated bamboo bundle, and bonding interface, the properties of bamboo scrimber were studied systematically. The results showed that effective penetration of PF into cells in fresh bamboo bundle was found with high initial moisture content, hence excellent dimensional stability of bamboo scrimber was achieved. MOR and MOE were 140.98–172.09 MPa and 14.58–16.06 GPa, respectively, which all met the outdoor requirements of GB/T 30364–2013. The drying time and energy consumption were decreased by 15–21% and 38–44% respectively compared with traditional two-time drying process. The one-time drying method reported was benefit to prepare bamboo scrimber in an energy-saving and efficient way.