Bamboo composite material for structural applications and method of fabricating the same

Abstract

A bamboo composite material for structural applications and method of fabricating the same are provided. The method can comprise the steps of providing a bamboo culm; separating a slice or sheet from the bamboo culm such that the slice or sheet has a longitudinal axis along a fiber direction of the bamboo culm; at least partially detaching individual fiber bundles of the slice or sheet from each other along the longitudinal axis of the slice or sheet; applying a glue to the slice or sheet; and curing the glued slice or sheet.

1 . A composite material for structural applications, comprising:
 a slice or sheet of bamboo fiber bundles, the slice or sheet having a longitudinal axis along a fiber direction of the fiber bundles; and   a cured glue applied to the slice or sheet;   wherein the cured glue fills a gap between at least partially un-attached adjacent fiber bundles of the slice or sheet along the longitudinal axis of the slice or sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the glue is chosen such that a tensile strength of the cured slice or sheet substantially matches that of a first material. 
     
     
         3 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the glue is chosen such that a thermal expansion coefficient of the cured slice or sheet substantially matches that of a second material. 
     
     
         4 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second material is a further component of the composite material. 
     
     
         5 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the composite material comprises reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first material comprises one or more of a group consisting of steel, carbon and glass, and bamboo, hemp, sisal or other organic high-tensile fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the glue comprises one or more of a group consisting of resin and hardener, wherein the resins may be a cold blend of various resin families, e.g. PE, VE, PU or epoxy.