The invention belongs to the technical field of bamboo
processing and modification, and particularly relates to a method for
softening bamboo through cooperation of a
metal ion-based eutectic
solvent and high-temperature steam based on an in-situ modification mechanism. The method comprises the following steps: preparing a
metal ion-based eutectic
solvent (MDES) taking
metal salt as a
hydrogen bond
acceptor; the bamboo wood is placed in the
solvent to be soaked, and the solvent permeates into
cell walls; and after the bamboo is taken out and surface floating liquid is wiped off, high-temperature steam treatment is directly carried out without
water washing. According to the method, a crystalline region is destroyed by virtue of strong coordination of metal ions and
cellulose, and meanwhile,
lignin is induced to generate in-situ
depolymerization by virtue of MDES in a high-temperature
water vapor environment, so that a low-molecular-weight
lignin segment is generated. The method solves the problems of low bamboo yield and damaged
mechanical strength caused by the fact that a large amount of
lignin is removed in an existing chemical
softening technology, through an in-situ plasticizing mechanism, deep
softening is achieved while the high yield of the bamboo is kept, the anti-bending
elastic modulus is greatly reduced, and the deformation
machining performance of the bamboo is improved.