Green, low-carbon construction is crucial for shaping a sustainable future. A groundbreaking innovation from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is redefining the possibilities of eco-friendly materials. Super Bamboo? is a next-generation engineered bamboo material that is stronger than industrial steel and titanium alloys. Developed without harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde and toxic glues, and with zero greenhouse gas emissions, Super Bamboo? holds immense promise for applications in construction, interior design, and even advanced fields, such as automotive and aerospace engineering.
The project is led by CityUHK researchers and commercialised by Super Bamboo Limited, a start-up co-founded in 2021 by Professor Lu Yang (then from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, CityUHK), Visiting Assistant Professor Dr Fan Rong, and Research Assistant Mr Andy Wong, who serves as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Backed by the HK Tech 300 programme, the company received HK$100,000 in seed funding and HK$1 million in angel investment. The start-up was also admitted to Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s (HKSTP) Incubation Program and has earned international accolades, including a Gold Medal at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days 2021. It obtained patents in both the United States and Hong Kong.
Strength beyond Steel: Modifying Bamboo’s Microstructure
Bamboo is a natural composite material, comprising cellulose (approximately 45%), hemicellulose (24%), and lignin (26%). Cellulose is the strongest component of the three, and the research team discovered that by modifying bamboo’s microstructure and increasing the proportion of cellulose, they could increase its strength exponentially.
Using Moso bamboo as the base material, the process begins with soaking bamboo strips in a heated alkaline solution to dissolve the weaker hemicellulose and lignin components, leaving a cellulose-rich structure. The treated strips are then compressed in metal moulds, using heat and pressure to eliminate internal air pockets, reducing their thickness by about 70%, while significantly increasing the density. The result is Super Bamboo?, a material three times stronger than conventional bamboo.
Dr Wu Yutong, a materials researcher at Super Bamboo Limited, highlights the material’s superior properties. “With a strength-to-weight ratio of 350 MPa/(g/cm3), Super Bamboo? outperforms untreated bamboo’s 100 MPa/(g/cm3), aluminium alloys’ 200 MPa/(g/cm3), and even titanium alloys’ 250 MPa/(g/cm3).”
Eco-Friendly Innovation: Zero Glue, Zero Formaldehyde
Super Bamboo? provides an innovative, environmentally friendly solution to modern construction materials. Bamboo matures in just four to five years, compared to decades for hardwood trees, making it a renewable and sustainable resource.
Unlike traditional engineered bamboo products, which rely on glue and chemical binders that emit toxic formaldehyde and contribute to carbon emissions, Super Bamboo? is entirely glue-free. “Super Bamboo? is the only bamboo material on the market today that requires no glue,” says Andy Wong. “This innovation not only reduces the carbon footprint, but also creates a biodegradable, high-performance material that meets the demand for sustainable development.”
HK Tech 300 Accelerates Commercialisation
The founders of Super Bamboo Limited, primarily researchers by training, had limited prior experience in entrepreneurship, so turning their research results into a viable business posed challenges for the team. Andy Wong reflects, “Lack of familiarity with the commercial landscape is a common hurdle for research-driven start-ups. HK Tech 300 provided us with critical support, including a trip to Malaysia to engage with Southeast Asian markets and explore new business opportunities.”
The team also gained invaluable mentorship from Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping, Honorary President of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. Andy Wong said Dr Chung’s support was instrumental in helping them navigate industry trends and expand their network in the construction sector.
Initial Focus on Flooring, with Plans to Expand into Automotive and Aerospace
The team envisions a broad range of applications for Super Bamboo?, starting with flooring and expanding into the automotive and aerospace industries. By scaling up production, the company aims to make Super Bamboo? a cost-effective, low-carbon and sustainable material for global markets.
Plans are underway to establish production facilities in the Greater Bay Area, leveraging the burgeoning demand in mainland China and Southeast Asia for sustainable construction materials. The company is also refining its technology to enable the production of larger-scale Super Bamboo? components, positioning itself as a leader in the global market for green-building solutions.
Nov 2024