Synergistic effect of luffa seed oil and microwave treatment on the physicochemical properties of bamboo slices

The utilization potential of bamboo is enormous; however, its use is hampered in furniture and building materials applications due to its hydrophilic and mildew-prone properties. For the first time, bamboo was subjected to microwave treatment followed by impregnation with luffa seed oil (LSO), rich in high levels of bioactive substances. The synergistic effects of microwave treatment and LSO impregnation on the chemical, physical, mildew resistance, and mechanical properties of bamboo materials and their interrelationships were systematically investigated. The results showed that microwave treatment could increase the porosity of bamboo slices. The LSO content reached a higher saturation in bamboo slices when impregnated for 8 h, the contact angle of bamboo slices increased by 318.9%, and the short-term mildew resistance was significantly enhanced. LSO not only penetrated the bamboo fiber cell wall and cell cavity to form a physical bond, but also possibly formed a chemical connection. The mechanical strength of bamboo slices impregnated with LSO after microwave treatment was improved, and the ultimate load and elastic modulus when loaded on the yellow side of bamboo were 426.8 N and 9379.4 MPa, respectively.