MODIFICATION OF THE SEMITRANSPARENT PRUNUS-SERRULA BARK FILM - MAKINGRUBBER OUT OF BARK

We report an extensive structural and mechanical characterization of t he semitransparent bark of Prunus serrula. Variations in the propertie s were observed. Mechanical properties along the fiber axis of these f ilms are strongly related to the cell dimensions. Several trends can b e seen with increasing cell length: tensile strength and Young's modul us increase; ductility decreases. Perpendicular to the fiber axis, sim ilar radial dimensions of the bark cells contributes to similar mechan ical properties. Plasticization not only shrinks the dimension of the bulk films along the tangential axis, which is unique, but also dramat ically changes the mechanical properties. We have shown, for the first time, that the mechanical properties of the Prunus serrula bark can b e effectively tailored with different plasticization and modification agents. The plastic bark can be successfully converted to rubberlike m aterial either temporally or permanently, or it can be strengthened by tensile deformation of the plasticized bark.