Fibers and Polymers 2020, Vol.21, No.

6, 1382-1386 ISSN 1229-9197 (print version)

DOI 10.1007/s12221-020-9554-z ISSN 1875-0052 (electronic version)

Experimental Investigations on the Mechanical Properties of

Bamboo Fiber and Fibril
Mingquan Tan1, Xuepeng Jiang1,2*, Huali Ke3, Wenwang Wu4, and Re Xia5*
1
School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology,
Wuhan Hubei 430081, China
2
Industrial Safety Engineering Technology Research Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan Hubei 430081, China
3
School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430072, China
4
Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
5
School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430072, China
(Received May 29, 2019; Revised September 19, 2019; Accepted October 20, 2019)

Abstract: Bamboo based composite materials are widely used for structural components in building and textile industries.
The structural hierarchy across different scales could enhance the strength and toughness of bamboo for load-bearing
applications. Firstly, chemical components of bamboo fibril are described, and bamboo fibril specimens are fabricated
through chemical solution processing; Secondly, functionally graded mechanical properties of macroscopic bamboo fibers
are studied with tensile experiments, and relations between graded mechanical properties and microstructures are explored;
Afterwards, hierarchical microstructure characterization of bamboo across different scales are performed using scanning
electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical properties of bamboo fibrils are tested using homemade in-situ micro-tension
setup. The results indicate that the elastic modulus, ultimate strain and strength of bamboo fibers are: 5.952 GPa, 0.0136 and
81.13 MPa respectively. The Young’s moduli, ultimate strains and fracture strengths of the five fibril samples located in
(10.478, 12.285) GPa, (0.0172, 0.0217) and (181.87, 230.50) MPa, respectively. These experimental results suggest that the
modulus and ultimate strength of bamboo fibril are higher than that of bamboo fibers which are attributed to several main
factors including the ages of the bamboo, bamboo species, multi-lamella structures of the fibrils, geometry differences of
fibrils, etc.
Keywords: Bamboo fiber, Fibril, Mechanical properties, Micro-tension

Introduction reported that the tensile strength of India bamboo composite

is ranged between 40 and 170 MPa. Zhou et al. [10] reported
Bamboo materials are widely used in musical instruments that the elastic modulus of China bamboo (Phyllostachys
[1], structural components of buildings [2], and relevant edulis (Carr.)) obtained via nano-indentation is 10.4±1.8 GPa.
textile industries. Bamboo has developed highly optimized In this article, relations between mechanical properties and
functionally graded hierarchical structures [3] through the hierarchical structural of bamboo are explored. Firstly,
evolution process during the past millions of years. The bamboo fiber and fibril specimens are fabricated through
structure of bamboo consists of epidermis, parenchyma cells mechanical cutting and chemical processing, respectively.
and vascular bundles, which are surrounded by supporting Afterwards, the functional graded mechanical properties of
fibers. From mechanical properties point of view, bamboo bamboo fibers are investigated. Finally, the tensile mechanical
can be regarded as a type of fiber reinforced composite. The properties of micro fibrils are tested with homemade in-situ
main functions of bamboo structure are maintaining nutrition micro-tension setup.
transport and providing mechanical strength to withstand
external loadings. The optimized composite structure is Experimental
benefit for withstanding static and dynamic bending loads
exerted by the mass of bamboo trunk and wind/storm/snow Materials and Chemicals
loading [4]. The gradient bamboo structure and mechanical In this paper, bamboo samples were collected from
properties at different hierarchical levels were well optimized Taojiang County (the country of bamboo), Hunan Province,
along radial direction [5-8]. In the past years, the mechanical China. The particular species are locally known as Nanzhu.
properties of bamboo fiber and fibril were studied with The investigated Nanzhu samples (6 years old) are harvested
different methods. For example, it was reported that the in winter, and dried in the open air for 3 months before the
tensile strength and modulus of Japan bamboo fiber are experiments.
610 MPa and 46 GPa, respectively [9]. Ray et al. [3]
Bamboo Fibril Fabrication
*Corresponding author: jxp5276@126.com The collected bamboo fibers are immersed into mixed
*Corresponding author: xiare@whu.edu.cn alkali solution at 100 oC for 2 hours. The solution comprised

1382
Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fiber and Fibril Fibers and Polymers 2020, Vol.21, No.6 1383

Figure 1. Image of dyed fibrils under optical microscope.

Figure 3. De-bundle process of fibrils; (a) fibril bundles not

of 10 % NaOH, 2 % sodium pyrophosphate and 3 % decomposed fully and (b) fibril decomposed fully.
additive sodium sulfite solution are manufactured by
Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Beijing Co., Ltd., China.
Afterwards, the cementing materials in-between neighboring microscopy SEM (SS-550, Shimadzu, Japan), as shown in
fibrils are removed off, and the fibril are de-bundled. Figure 2 and Figure 3. The shape of vascular bundle at the
Additive sodium sulfite and sodium pyrophosphate solution outer periphery shows elliptical shape, and its long axis is
is effective for avoiding oxidation of fibrils, and removing along radial direction. From external to internal region, the
cementing materials between fibrils [11-14]. After being shape of vascular bundles changes from elliptical into
decomposed in mixed alkali solution properly, the resultant circular, then elliptical shape again, under which condition
fibrils are collected and neutralized with acetic acid, then the long axis is vertical to the radial direction. The fibers
cleaned with de-ionized water adequately. Finally, the inside the vascular bundle consist of a smaller circular part
harvested bamboo fibrils are dyed red in order to improve and a bigger V-type part near the outer region. From the
the visualization under optical microscope (Figure 1). outer to the inner region, the fibers are divided into four
neighboring lunar-shape parts gradually. The hollow bamboo
Microstructure Characterization of Bamboo with SEM fiber and fibril both consist of lamella structures at the
Bamboo has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel macroscopic or microscopic scale. The hierarchical hollow
and concrete, and is used as renewable and sustainable structures of fiber and fibril can enhance the mechanical
structural materials for decades. The microstructure characteri- integrity and toughness of bamboo structures. Thus, bamboo
zation of bamboo is investigated using scanning electron has macroscopic and microscopic optimized structure for
bearing multiple environmental loads [11,15].

Results and Discussion

Hierarchical Structure Characterization and Mechanical

Testing of Bamboo
The unique robust mechanical properties of bamboo origin
from its natural composite structure, including mainly the
cellulose microfibrils and lignin-carbohydrate complex
matrix. In a bamboo fiber, cellulose microfibrils are
surrounded by lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) matrices
that mainly contain lignin and hemicellulose. Lignin is a
natural phenolic macromolecule that mainly exists in the
plant secondary cell wall. It is made up of three main
phenylpropanoid sub-units, namely p-hydroxyphenyl (H-
type), guaiacyl (G-type) and syringyl (S-type) units.
The raw bamboo is cut into 7 equal-thickness slices along
radial direction, and 5 elliptical fiber (vascular bundle)
specimens are fabricated from each slice for tensile
experiments, and the cross-section of the bamboo fibers is
treated as elliptical shape. As shown in Figure 4, the tested
elastic modulus and ultimate strength show functionally
Figure 2. Hierarchical structure of bamboo; (a) bamboo culm, graded properties from the inner to the outer side. The
(b) vascular bundles, (c) neighboring fibrils, and (d) single fibril. reasons are that the vascular bundles may be viewed as
1384 Fibers and Polymers 2020, Vol.21, No.6 Mingquan Tan et al.

Figure 4. Mechanical properties of vascular bundles; (a) modulus of vascular bundles and (b) ultimate strength of vascular bundles.

composite of fibrils and residual matrix structure (consists of the two opposite directions along the cylinder translation
xylem vessels, meta-xylem vessel, and the neighboring thin- bars. The force sensing unit consists of two force sensors,
wall cells), whose strength is much lower than that of fibrils, which is made of double-cantilever beams. A programmable
and the content proportion of fibrils within the vascular control unit is utilized to drive the actuators continually or
bundles decreases nonlinear from the outer to the inner step by step with DC voltage varying from 0 to 200 V with a
periphery. In order to understand the mechanical properties resolution of 0.05 V. The PZT actuators may produce
of vascular bundles better, the mechanical properties of displacement range about 100 µm, thus the displacement
fibrils should be investigated thoroughly. resolution between two specimen loading stages is 25 nm.
As to testing of bamboo fibrils, the double-cantilevered
In-situ Micro-tension of Fibril sensors with micro force resolution of 7.8 µN and force
In order to test the mechanical properties of bamboo fibril, range of 0-120 mN is adopted for tensile force measurement.
a homemade setup was employed to perform in-situ uniaxial Before the micro-tension experiments are conducted, the
micro-tension tests [16]. Figure 5 shows the images of the testing system is connected and calibrated carefully. The
micro-tension setup and the testing system. The micro- fibril is fixed on the specimen loading stages, and super glue
tension setup consists of four main parts: the supporting unit, is used for fixing the fibril on the loading platform.
the PZT actuating unit, the force sensing unit and the Misalignment of the specimen is adjusted under microscope
specimen loading stage. The supporting unit is a U-type beforehand, thus the axis direction of bamboo fibril is
structure made of alumina alloy. The PZT actuating unit parallel to the tension axes of the loading platforms. The
consists of four cylinder translation bars, two slides and two micro-tensile experiments are conducted under optical
PZT actuators. The two slides, with one end connected to the microscope (magnification: 1050 X), thus the displacement
PZT actuator and the other to the supporting spring, are resolution is 0.18 μm. After fabrication, alignment and
driven by the PZT actuators and can glide symmetrically in fixing steps, the fibril was subjected to uniaxial quasi-static

Figure 5. Images of (a) micro-tension setup and (b) testing system.

Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fiber and Fibril Fibers and Polymers 2020, Vol.21, No.6 1385

Table 1. Mechanical properties of the five bamboo fibrils (the 10.478 and 12.285 GPa, and the fracture strength of the
diameters and lengths of each bamboo fibril are different) fibrils are between 181.87 and 230.50 MPa, the ultimate
Ultimate Ultimate strain are between 0.0172 and 0.02169. The fibril shows
Gauge Diameter Modulus
Samples strength strain linear mechanical behaviors during the tensile process, and
(µm) (µm) (GPa)
(MPa) (%) the tensile and fracture images are presented in Figure 7.
1 173.9 10.8 11.5 200.7 1.84 In the research, the Young’s modulus and the ultimate
2 169.4 10.4 12.285 220.5 1.81 fracture of fibrils is larger than that of the fibers (vascular
bundles). The reasons can be explained as follows: the
3 188.6 17.2 10.487 181.87 1.72
bamboo fibers consist of fibrils and weak matrix (consists of
4 206.8 7.44 10.501 222.49 2.088 cementing materials between fibrils, xylem vessels, meta-
5 207.5 6.76 10.717 230.5 2.169 xylem vessel and neighboring thin-wall cells), and the fiber
may be also regarded as fibril-reinforced composite
materials, while the bamboo fibril shows highly degree of
microstructure-closely related crystalline nature.

Discussion
There are several different reports on the mechanical
properties of bamboo fiber and fibrils in literatures. To
mention a few, the tensile strength of Japan bamboo fiber is
610 MPa, and the elastic modulus is 46 GPa [9]. The tensile
strength of India bamboo composite is between 40 and
170 MPa [3]. The elastic modulus of China bamboo studied
via nano-indentation is 10.4±1.8 GPa [10]. These tested
results differ from each other, and also differ from our results.
There are several reasons for these differences: (1) the
testing methods are differed with each other, and the
specimen preparation procedures are also different. (2) The
Figure 6. Stress and strain curves of the fibrils. influence of chemical process on the mechanical properties
of bamboo fibril that consists of cellulose reinforcement
embedded in hemi-cellulose and lignin matrix shows
micro-tension test, and the results are shown in Table 1. microstructure-closely related crystalline nature, which has
The diameter of the five bamboo fibrils is between 6.7 and very high level of crystalline properties and orientation
17.2 µm, and the stress-strain curve is given in Figure 6. Due effect, and 10 % NaOH solution treatment shows little effect
to initial slack behavior of the fibril at the beginning of the on the degree of crystallinity and tensile strength [11-14]. (3)
micro-tension process, the first two readings are ignored for There are Type I and Type II cellulose inside bamboo fibers.
the calculation of elastic modulus [17]. The elastic modulus, The crystalline degree of cellulose and hemi-cellulose is
ultimate strain and ultimate strength of the fiber are 5.952 different between different specimens. The crystalline
GPa, 0.0136 and 81.13 MPa correspondingly. The Yong’s degree is different within one specimen when the moisture
modulus of the five fibril specimens is ranged between content is changed. The crystalline degree variation will

Figure 7. Optical picture of fibril undergoing micro-tension; (a) the aligned and fixed fibril and (b) local fracture.
1386 Fibers and Polymers 2020, Vol.21, No.6 Mingquan Tan et al.

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