Omni-Surface Hydrophobic Bamboo Composite with Enhanced Antibacterial and Self-Cleaning Performance
Abstract
The nutrients within bamboo are prone to absorbing moisture, which creates an environment conducive to mold growth and restricts the expanded use of bamboo. Although traditional hydrophobic coatings can impart superhydrophobic properties to the surface of bamboo, they are unable to penetrate its interior structure, thereby leaving the intrinsic hydrophilicity of bamboo unaltered. In this study, we have engineered an omni-surface hydrophobic bamboo exhibiting anti-mold and super-hydrophobic properties through a methodology encompassing liquid deposition, hot pressing, and surface spraying techniques. The findings reveal that the water contact angle on the outer surface is 161.16°, the inner surface measures 135.47°, and the sliding angle of the outer surface is a mere 8°. Notably, the bamboo was endowed with exceptional anti-mold qualities by the omni-surface hydrophobic treatment, which greater than 99% control efficacy against Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Penicillium citrinum. An omni-surface hydrophobic bamboo composite (SHDB-Ag-S) exhibiting superior pat of natural bamboo and its Young's modulus is 1.37 times that of natural bamboo. The omni-surface hydrophobic bamboo developed in this study demonstrates considerable potential for applications in architecture and interior design due to its mold-resistant and self-cleaning properties.