Enhanced Resistance to Decay and Mildew for Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) through in-situ Metal Particle Impregnation

Abstract

Bamboo has become increasingly attractive for applications in construction and engineering due to its rapid growth, renewability, and a high strength-to-weight ratio. However, the poor natural resistance to mold limits its potential in the building industry. Conventional antifungal and decay-resistant treatments developed by domestic and international researchers often suffer from drawbacks such as human and environmental toxicity or poor leaching resistance. In this study, aiming to enhance the decay and mold resistance of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), a high-voltage electrostatic field was employed to excite metallic particles and embed them into the bamboo surface and interior, where they formed stable chemical bonds with active functional groups. White-rot fungi, brown-rot fungi, and Aspergillus flavus were used to assess resistance, with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and other techniques employed to evaluate antifungal performance. Results indicated that bamboo treated at the voltage of 60 kV for 12 h exhibited decay and mold resistance slightly lower than that of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated bamboo but higher than that of untreated bamboo; while high-voltage electrostatic-treated bamboo possessed superior leaching resistance compared with CCA-treated bamboo.