Natural bamboo passes through different stages to get the final yellow or coffee color of the carbonized bamboo. Here are some tips for the carbonization of bamboo:
1. Are There Any Safety Concerns Associated with the Carbonization Process?
Yes, some safety concerns are associated with the carbonization process that should be taken seriously to avoid risks to the environment and humans. Here are a few:
- During the carbonization process, many harmful gases are produced if care isn’t taken. The most prominent and dangerous gas produced during carbonization is carbon monoxide. If not handled carefully, it can even kill a person by reducing oxygen levels in his lungs. You should take care while opening the kiln during the process that proper ventilation is provided to remove the excess carbon monoxide formed in the kiln.
- Tar and smoke are also produced during carbonization, which isn’t poisonous but can have long-term harmful effects on the respiratory system. Carbonization units should be established away from the housing areas to avoid contamination.
- Wood tar is produced, although it is a small amount if the duration of the carbonization process is more. It can cause long-term skin problems, so care should be taken to avoid contact. Working procedures and precautions should be followed while ensuring protective clothing.
- The harmful residues produced during the process are released into the water bodies. Humans and marine life then consume the water. Both humans and marine life suffer the adverse effects of contaminated water. Therefore, the residue shouldn’t be released into the water bodies without treatment to make them less toxic for humans and marine animals.
2. What Carbonization Process Does to Bamboo?
The Carbonization of bamboo induces many changes in bamboo to get desired characteristics that are not found in natural bamboo. Here are some changes that the carbonization process makes in bamboo:
Changes color
When bamboo is heated to a high temperature, its color changes, this is the primary reason for carbonizing bamboo because the natural bamboo doesn’t go perfectly with each home’s interior due to the same color. The carbonization of bamboo can make it lighter or darker, allowing you to choose any as per your home’s interior.
The color bamboo gets after carbonization depends upon the duration of the process. Bamboo that is heated for a long time gets a darker color and vice versa.
Makes bamboo brittle
When bamboo is subjected to carbonization, it becomes brittle. This means that lesser pressure will be required to break bamboo into pieces. Natural bamboo can tolerate more load before it breaks into pieces.
Makes bamboo softer
Carbonized bamboo is 1/3 times softer than natural bamboo, due to which it can break easily and is affected by the moisture in the surrounding environment. Bamboo that undergoes the process of carbonization is less durable than natural bamboo because heat weakens its structure.
3. Can You Stain Carbonized Bamboo?
There is no need to stain carbonized bamboo because it gets a natural color when it undergoes the process of carbonization. The color that carbonized bamboo gets after carbonization is permanent and doesn’t fade away with time. Unlike stained material, whose color lightens with time, your carbonized bamboo will have the original shine for years.
You can get any of your desired color while choosing carbonized bamboo because it is heated at different temperatures to give different colors to carbonized bamboo. For example, if you want dark-colored carbonized bamboo, choose bamboo that has been carbonized for a long time. For lighter carbonized bamboo, the duration of the carbonization process is less.
4. Does Carbonized Bamboo’s Color Fade Away When Exposed to Sunlight?
The color of carbonized bamboo doesn’t fade away when exposed to sunlight because it’s not like a regular stain. During the carbonization process, the sugars in bamboo are caramelized, which gives carbonized bamboo its color. As the change is in internal structure, it will not be affected by sunlight, unlike stained materials. When stained materials are kept under the sun for a specific time, the color starts fading with time because it was just painted, and the stain was introduced to the wood’s cellular and porous structure.
5. What Types of Mold Attack Carbonized Bamboo?
Here are some common types of mold attacks on carbonized bamboo:
Surface mold
The mold that grows on the surface of the bamboo is known as surface mold. As this mold doesn’t penetrate deep into the carbonized bamboo’s structure, it will not affect its strength. You can easily remove it with a wipe from the surface.
Stain mold
Stain mold appears in the form of grey or black shades that discolor the bamboo surface. It’s easy to identify and get rid of stain mold at an early stage. Many spots and steaks will form on the bamboo surface, influencing its aesthetic appearance. Like surface mold, stain mold also causes no damage to the strength of bamboo because it can’t reach the deeper layers of bamboo.
Decay mold
Decay fungi cause severe damage to carbonized bamboo because it’s difficult to identify it at an early stage, and it affects the bamboo internally. Brown or white rot appears when the damage can’t be reversed. It mainly occurs when bamboo absorbs a lot of moisture.
6. Is Bamboo Mold Dangerous?
Yes, bamboo mold is dangerous for all bamboo products. The damage can be severe or mild, depending upon the intensity of the mold attack. Also, your carbonized bamboo will suffer more if you treat it late when the mold has taken it over completely. When mold is limited to the surface, you can remove it and protect your carbonized bamboo from damage at the initial stage.
7. How to Treat Carbonized Bamboo Mold?
There are many ways to get rid of the mold if you have identified it at an early stage. You can get many products that are considered highly effective in removing mold from carbonized bamboo. If your carbonized bamboo has mold, follow the procedure mentioned below to remove it before it can cause more damage to your carbonized bamboo:
- With the help of a soft brush, remove the white spots and mold from the bamboo surface. Then, clean the affected area with a wet cloth. Mix vinegar and water or lemon oil to form a mixture that will remove the mold.
- When you clean mold from the carbonized bamboo products, coat them with polyurethane, for at least 3 coats. You’ll need plenty of time to do this, but it will act as a shield against mold in the future for your carbonized bamboo.
- Make sure to clean the carbonized bamboo products with turpentine and wait until it dries completely. If it doesn’t dry properly, mold will find a way to grow underneath the polyurethane finish, which will cause blisters.
8. Does Carbonized Bamboo Mold in the Shower?
Many bamboo products, stools, bathtubs, floor mats, etc., are used in the bathroom. Like natural bamboo, carbonized bamboo is also frequently used to make bathroom products. The manufacturers know that high moisture is one of the major causes of mold in carbonized and natural bamboo. So, they design it in a way to make it safe to use in the bathroom without the fear of mold.
A wax sealant is used for bamboo furniture and accessories made for the bathroom. It can prevent molding by protecting carbonized bamboo from the excessive moisture in the shower. But, if you leave your carbonized bamboo products in water for a long it, they will develop mold eventually. So, you have to be careful and check the moisture bamboo is absorbing in your bathroom. If you observe mold, remove bamboo from the bathroom and start the treatment immediately.
9. Is Carbonized Bamboo Antimicrobial?
Yes, carbonized bamboo is antimicrobial, and it isn’t because of the carbonization process. Bamboo has antibacterial properties naturally. Many plants can resist bacteria, so this property was also investigated for bamboo. A 2012 study revealed that bamboo has antibacterial properties.
The antibacterial properties were due to a compound known as lignin. It’s present in the cell walls of the bamboo plant cells and provides bamboo its shape. Lignin also protects the bamboo from drastic weather conditions. For the study, Moso bamboo was used. But it was soon found that many other bamboo species also have antibacterial properties, such as Japanese bamboo.
10. Reasons for Choosing Carbonized Bamboo
You may already have gotten enough reasons for choosing carbonized bamboo over other materials such as plastic. Let’s have a look at the reasons why you should choose carbonized bamboo:
Renewable
There are many types of bamboo, and each has a different growth rate. Depending upon the species, you can harvest bamboo in a year or have to wait just 5 years. Other plants take even longer to mature completely to be used for making different products. Also, bamboo is never removed from the roots. Bamboo product manufacturers cut it from the shoot at a gap from the roots. Hence, there is no need to plant bamboo again and again because the remaining root and stalk will grow into a new plant soon.
Grows quickly
No plant on the planet grows faster than bamboo. Although different bamboo species will have a different growth rates, it’s still more than most plants. Some bamboo species can grow at a rate of more than 3 feet per day. There is no need to plant it again after harvesting because the existing root system can grow into a new plant, and no time will be wasted developing a root system.
Eliminates greenhouse gases
If you have equal strands of bamboo and hardwood trees, bamboo will produce 35% more oxygen and consume more carbon dioxide. When more environment-friendly gas is added to the atmosphere and carbon dioxide is removed, this planet will become a better place eventually.
Chemical-free
Unlike other plants, you don’t need fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides to sustain and promote bamboo’s growth. It’ll grow quickly without the need for these chemicals that will add to the soil and remove nutrients present in the soil.
Versatile
Carbonized bamboo can be used to make a variety of products. You can easily get carbonized bamboo sleeping mats, chair mats, bathroom mats, etc. Due to its versatility, bamboo is perfect for making all these products that will last for many years.
Durable
Bamboo is stronger than most of the materials available to make different daily-use products. Replacing them with bamboo is an excellent choice if you need a material that you don’t want to replace after a few years. With a good maintenance routine, your carbonized bamboo products will tolerate all the wear and tear of the environment.
11. How to Clean and Care for Carbonized Bamboo?
You can get many products that are specifically made for bamboo to clean it. Instead of using harsh chemicals without knowledge, it’s recommended to use chemicals after consulting an expert. If you don’t want to clean bamboo with chemicals, you can also get help from simple home remedies that are excellent at cleaning while being inexpensive. The best one is using a mixture of water and vinegar.
To make a cleaning mixture, take ¼ cup of white vinegar and add it to a quart of water. Mix them properly and use a mop or sponge to clean the carbonized bamboo. If you want to use this mixture, be careful while diluting white vinegar. If vinegar isn’t diluted and used with its full strength, it can damage your carbonized bamboo.
Tips to Clean and Care for Carbonized Bamboo
Remember the following tips to clean and care for carbonized bamboo:
- Never wet carbonized bamboo in water for a long time while cleaning. Always use a mop to limit the water bamboo will absorb during the cleaning process, and dry it immediately once you’re done with the cleaning.
- Use hot water for deep cleaning and avoid bleaches or chemicals having chlorine and other harsh chemicals.
- Always follow the instructions of the manufacturer to care for your carbonized bamboo properly from day one. Otherwise, you might do things that can’t be reversed afterward.
Carbonization bamboo has become more convenient and hassle-free due to carbonization machines. All the process is completed in these carbonization machines, eliminating the manual work, which takes a lot of time and effort.
