A study conducted by Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University in Hangzhou, China, explores the use of bamboo in construction, furniture, and decoration. The researchers aimed to address the issues of dimensional instability and susceptibility to mildew that affect the economic value of bamboo. They developed a wax-based composite system composed of paraffin, microcrystalline wax, and stearic acid to improve the hydrophobicity, dimensional stability, and mold resistance of bamboo. The modified bamboo showed significant improvements in these properties, suggesting potential applications for the protection of bamboo products. The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and has been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]