Abstract
Injection molding of steamed bamboo powder was attempted by controlling the metal mold temperature. Bamboo powder was steamed at 200 °C for 20 min in a small pressure vessel. A thermal flow test of the steamed powder was conducted in order to investigate the flowability of the powder. The powder flowed at 160-220 °C, and had good flowability at 180 and 200 °C. Injection molding was conducted under the condition that the injection temperature was 180 or 200 °C and the metal mold temperature was 80-160 °C. It was possible to obtain products through this process. In particular, products with a gloss surface similar to plastic were obtained when the metal mold temperature was 140 or 160 °C. Injection pressure was affected by temperature; the material flowed inside the metal mold under low pressure when the injection and the metal mold temperatures were high. However, the flowability inside the metal mold did not have an effect on the surface texture of the product.