A wood substrate or member is included, having an increased density with respect to natural, untreated wood. The process includes drying the wood prior to application of heat and pressure, which are controlled to reduce or eliminate color change on a surface of the wood member where heat and pressure are applied.

A wood substrate or member is included, having an increased density with respect to natural, untreated wood. The process includes drying the wood prior to application of heat and pressure, which are controlled to reduce or eliminate color change on a surface of the wood member where heat and pressure are applied.

Disclosed is a bamboo strip shaping method, which includes the following steps: S01: cutting a bamboo tube, and removing inner joints, outer joints and bamboo outer skin; S02: trisecting or quartering the bamboo tube in a longitudinal direction to obtain curved bamboo strips; S03: placing the curved bamboo strips in a bamboo strip shaping device for processing; S04: subjecting the curved bamboo strips to steam treatment and heating softening treatment; S05: pressing and shaping the curved bamboo strips to obtain flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a first time under a maintained pressure; S06: wetting bamboo outer skin surfaces and bamboo inner skin surfaces of the flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a second time; and S07: wetting the bamboo outer skin surfaces and the bamboo inner skin surfaces of the flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a third time.

Disclosed is a bamboo strip shaping method, which includes the following steps: S01: cutting a bamboo tube, and removing inner joints, outer joints and bamboo outer skin; S02: trisecting or quartering the bamboo tube in a longitudinal direction to obtain curved bamboo strips; S03: placing the curved bamboo strips in a bamboo strip shaping device for processing; S04: subjecting the curved bamboo strips to steam treatment and heating softening treatment; S05: pressing and shaping the curved bamboo strips to obtain flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a first time under a maintained pressure; S06: wetting bamboo outer skin surfaces and bamboo inner skin surfaces of the flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a second time; and S07: wetting the bamboo outer skin surfaces and the bamboo inner skin surfaces of the flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a third time.

A numerically controlled machining centre is disclosed comprising two workpiece holding tables that are arranged one beside the other and a carriage that is movable on the two tables and carries a first operating unit that is movable according to three machining axes to deposit hardening plasticized material on said tables to form raw workpieces with an additive manufacturing method and a second finishing operating unit having a movable bi-rotative tool-holding head according to three machining axes to remove material from the workpieces formed by the first operating unit.

A flexible structure is formed by subjecting cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes hemicellulose and lignin therefrom. The treated wood has a unique 3-D porous structure with numerous channels, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, and improved flexibility as compared to the natural wood. By further modifying the treated wood, the structure can be adapted to particular applications. For example, nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, or any other coating or material can be added to the treated wood to form a hybrid structure. In some embodiments, open lumina with-in the structure can be at least partially filled with a non-wood substance, such as a flexible polymer, or with entangled cellulose nanofibers. The unique architecture and superior properties of the flexible wood allow for its use in various applications, such as, but not limited to, structural materials, solar thermal devices, flexible electronics, tissue engineering, thermal management, and energy storage.

A flexible structure is formed by subjecting cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes hemicellulose and lignin therefrom. The treated wood has a unique 3-D porous structure with numerous channels, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, and improved flexibility as compared to the natural wood. By further modifying the treated wood, the structure can be adapted to particular applications. For example, nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, or any other coating or material can be added to the treated wood to form a hybrid structure. In some embodiments, open lumina with-in the structure can be at least partially filled with a non-wood substance, such as a flexible polymer, or with entangled cellulose nanofibers. The unique architecture and superior properties of the flexible wood allow for its use in various applications, such as, but not limited to, structural materials, solar thermal devices, flexible electronics, tissue engineering, thermal management, and energy storage.

A super strong and tough densified wood structure is formed by subjecting a cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes lignin therefrom. The treated wood retains lumina of the natural wood, with cellulose nanofibers of cell walls being aligned. The treated wood is then pressed in a direction crossing the direction in which the lumina extend, such that the lumina collapse and any residual fluid within the wood is removed. As a result, the cell walls become entangled and hydrogen bonds are formed between adjacent cellulose nanofibers, thereby improving the strength and toughness of the wood among other mechanical properties. By further modifying, manipulating, or machining the densified wood, it can be adapted to various applications.

In some examples, a method of manufacturing a densified wood transaction instrument includes boiling a sheet of wood in a chemical solution, compressing the boiled sheet of wood using a die in a press to form one or more features in the sheet of wood, during the compressing of the boiled sheet of wood, heating the boiled sheet of wood to create a sheet of densified wood, and attaching one or more payment elements to at least one of the one or more features formed in the sheet of densified wood to form a sheet of one or more densified wood transaction instruments.

In some examples, a method of manufacturing a densified wood transaction instrument includes boiling a sheet of wood in a chemical solution, compressing the boiled sheet of wood using a die in a press to form one or more features in the sheet of wood, during the compressing of the boiled sheet of wood, heating the boiled sheet of wood to create a sheet of densified wood, and attaching one or more payment elements to at least one of the one or more features formed in the sheet of densified wood to form a sheet of one or more densified wood transaction instruments.