Study on the Effect of Flattening Modification on Bamboo ...

1. Introduction

Over the past century, the explosion of the world&#;s population and the massive use of fossil fuels have led to the emission of large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, resulting in global warming [ 1 2 ]. The aggravation of this climate problem has triggered a series of crises such as rising sea levels, a sharp decline in biodiversity, and a decrease in food production [ 3 5 ]. As a result, the gradual mitigation and solution of global warming has become the focus of attention of the whole society [ 6 7 ]. In recent years, biomass materials represented by wood have been widely used in the fields of construction materials, furniture and daily necessities because of their renewability and good carbon sequestration properties [ 8 9 ]. The superior physical and mechanical qualities, natural texture and the good processability of wood also meet the criteria for raw materials in such fields. The high demand for timber, however, is at odds with the slow growth rate of trees. The maintenance of the world&#;s overall forest area is also seriously threatened by the lacking supply of wood, which will ultimately affect the global forest absorption and sequestration of greenhouse gases [ 10 ]. As another typical biomass material, the rapid growth rate and excellent physical and mechanical properties of bamboo make it a potential alternative to wood [ 11 12 ]. Focusing on the development of high-quality bamboo-based products helps to alleviate the problem of insufficient wood supply. At the same time, timely harvesting and processing of age-appropriate bamboo into bamboo-based products also stops the natural decay of bamboo in a short period of time and extends the carbon sequestration cycle of bamboo. Based on the above outstanding advantages of bamboo, bamboo has attracted attention in many fields. Bamboo has a long history of being used as a construction and structural material in various cultures around the world, especially in Asia and Latin America. Some of the applications of bamboo in construction include bridges, houses, buildings, scaffolding, fencing, and furniture [ 13 ]. Bamboo has gained more attention in recent years as a potential alternative to conventional materials, due to its aesthetic appeal, low cost and environmental benefits [ 14 ].

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Unfortunately, bamboo processing is restricted by its characteristics of having a hollow structure and thin wall [ 15 ]. The current mainstream processing method is mainly to split the bamboo tube into bamboo slices or bundles, and then reorganize and glue them into laminated bamboo timber or bamboo scrimber [ 16 19 ]. In addition, there are some new bamboo processing methods that have emerged in recent years. Chen et al. [ 20 21 ] created a bamboo winding pipe by encasing helically wound layers of thin but strong bamboo sliver curtains in a protective matrix of gauze wrap, thermosetting resin and powdered bio-filler. Huang et al. [ 22 23 ] manufactured arc-shaped bamboo laminated lumber by assembling equal-arc-shaped bamboo splits in the same arc direction and then gluing them directly. These new technologies are widely used in the field of structural materials. Compared to wood, which can be obtained in large sizes simply by sawing directly, bamboo is more complex to process, and the final bamboo lumber inevitably has splices, thus limiting the application of bamboo in some scenarios [ 24 25 ]. Typically, in the cutting board sector, wood has been the main base material due to its suitable hardness and good antibacterial properties, while bamboo has struggled to outperform wood despite similar performance [ 26 ]. This is mainly due to the fact that bamboo cutting boards made from laminated bamboo timber have a series of problems compared to wooden cutting boards: (1) the glue line at the splicing of the cutting board surface is in direct contact with food, which is a food safety hazard; (2) as the base material of the cutting board, the laminated bamboo timber needs to be spliced and glued together to manufacture, and the adhesive content is high, which leads to higher formaldehyde emission from the cutting board and has a certain negative impact on the indoor environment; (3) in the course of prolonged use, the cutting board is vulnerable to fracture due to weak splices on the surface of the cutting board [ 27 ]; (4) the production process of bamboo laminated timber has a large amount of planing and low material utilization, which is not conducive to the environmental friendliness of the cutting board.

Thus, a novel method in bamboo processing is urgently needed to make large-size bamboo lumbers without splicing and overcome the drawbacks of bamboo-based materials in some particular application scenarios. In this context, the bamboo flattening modification technology was developed [ 28 30 ]. This technology softens the bamboo tube by means of high temperature, saturated steam or microwave, and then uses rollers to flatten the entire tube with curvature into a large-size flattened bamboo board (FBB). The whole process no longer requires splicing and gluing [ 31 33 ]. By the flattening modification, the morphology of bamboo is changed, and the physical and mechanical properties could be improved, which will be more suitable for the requirements of the substrate for cutting boards [ 34 35 ]. In addition, the absence of adhesives on the surface of the FBB can avoid food safety risks in the use of cutting boards and reduce the negative impact on the indoor environment. The whole process of bamboo flattening is also different from the traditional bamboo processing, and its processing method could be further simplified, which is expected to further reduce the carbon emission of the processing [ 36 ]. The use of a FBB as a base material for bamboo cutting boards is anticipated to solve the problems faced by bamboo cutting boards nowadays. In addition, not only for cutting boards but also for other applications with higher requirements for substrate size, physical and mechanical properties, appearance and safety, such as flooring, furniture, building materials and decorative materials, the FBB will have greater potential. It is necessary to analyze the effect of bamboo flattening modification technology applied to specific products.

In view of the potential advantages of bamboo flattening modification, we manufactured flattened bamboo cutting boards (FBCBs) using the modified FBB. This work compared the changes in morphological characteristics and physical and mechanical properties of bamboo before and after the flattening modification and discussed the performance enhancement and mechanism of the flattening modification on bamboo materials. In addition, the physical and mechanical properties of the FBCBs were tested and compared with the required performance criteria for cutting boards, and the advantages of flattening modification technology applied to cutting boards were discussed. Finally, the carbon footprint of FBCBs was evaluated to analyze their environmental friendliness. The assessment of the effect of flattening modification on bamboo cutting boards in this work demonstrated the contribution of flattening modification on bamboo material in a more specific way.

The Bamboo wire forming machine is a highly beneficial piece of equipment that has brought numerous advantages to the production processes of many industries. Below are some of the major advantages of this machine.
1. Firstly, the Bamboo wire forming machine enhances productivity. By automating the process of wire forming, it saves time and increases production output, helping businesses to meet the demand for their products quickly and efficiently. This, in turn, leads to increased profits and growth opportunities for the company.
2. Secondly, the Bamboo wire forming machine ensures accuracy. The machine produces consistent results every time, eliminating the risk of human errors that could lead to costly production mistakes. This accuracy also results in a better and more refined end product.
3. Thirdly, the Bamboo wire forming machine is user-friendly. With its simple design and easy-to-use interface, anyone can operate the machine, cutting down on the need for specialized training and reducing labor costs.
4. Lastly, the Bamboo wire forming machine is eco-friendly. It reduces waste and promotes sustainability by using fewer raw materials than the traditional wire forming methods, contributing to a better environment.

The bamboo toothpick production line is a state-of-the-art machine line that produces high-quality toothpicks from bamboo material. It is an innovative and advanced machine that has made toothpick manufacturing easy and efficient. The bamboo toothpick production line consists of several machines that work together to ensure the smooth production of bamboo toothpicks. These machines include:

1. Bamboo Sawing Machine: This machine is used to cut the bamboo sticks into pieces of the right size for the subsequent processes.
2. Bamboo Splitting Machine: It is used to split the bamboo sticks into thin and uniform bamboo strips.
3. Fixed Width Slicer: This machine makes sure that the bamboo strips are sliced to a uniform width for the next stage.
4. Bamboo Wool Slicer: The machine slices the bamboo strips into small slivers and polishes the upper surface.
5. Bamboo Stick Forming Machine: It is used to form the bamboo slivers into toothpick shapes.
6. Toothpick Sharpening Machine: The bamboo toothpicks will pass through a sharpening machine so that they are adequately sharpened to precision.
7. Toothpick Polishing Machine: This machine is used to polish the toothpicks after they are sharpened.
8. Toothpick Packing Machine: After the toothpicks pass the polishing stage, it is delivered to the packing stage for finishing. 

Technical information about bamboo toothpick machine:

Raw Materials Required To Make Bamboo Toothpicks:

The primary raw material required in making bamboo toothpicks is bamboo. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that is used for making various products, including toothpicks. The bamboo that is used in making toothpicks must be mature and have a diameter of at least 2.5 cm. Other materials required include glue, polishing wax, and abrasive paper.

Selecting The Suitable Machine:

When selecting a Bamboo Toothpick Making Machine, several factors need to be considered. These include the size and capacity of the machine, power consumption, and the type of toothpicks that the machine can produce.
The size of the machine will depend on the available space in the production area. The capacity of the machine is also essential as it will determine the amount of toothpicks that can be produced in a given time.
The power consumption of the machine is also crucial as it will determine the cost of production. It is advisable to choose a machine that is energy-efficient and has a low maintenance cost.
The type of toothpicks that the machine can produce is also essential. Some machines can produce different sizes and shapes of toothpicks, while others can only produce specific toothpicks.

Parameters Of The Machine:

The following are the parameters of the Bamboo Toothpick Making Machine:
1. Capacity - The production capacity of the machine is between 800,000 to 1 million toothpicks per day.
2. Power Consumption - The machine consumes 7.5 kW of power.
3. Weight - The machine weighs kg.
4. Size - The machine measures 3.5 meters in length, 1 meter in width, and 1.3 meters in height.
5. Raw Material Diameter - The raw material diameter should be between 5 to 12 mm.
6. Toothpick Length - The toothpick length can be adjusted between 65 to 100 mm.

What are the advantages of our factory?

As for our factory, we have many advantages that set us apart from our competitors. Firstly, we have a highly skilled and experienced team of professionals who are passionate about what they do. They are dedicated to delivering the highest quality products and services to our customers, and this shows in everything that they do. Secondly, we use the latest and most advanced manufacturing technology to ensure that our products are of the highest quality. This allows us to create products that are durable, reliable, and long-lasting, which in turn helps our customers save money in the long run. Finally, we are committed to providing exceptional customer service. We believe that our customers are the most important part of our business, and we go above and beyond to ensure that they are always happy with our products and services. We are always available to answer any questions or concerns that our customers may have and are committed to providing the best possible experience for them.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of China bamboo thin slicer machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.