Effect of Microstructure on Mechanical Properties of Cornstalk

The research on the mechanical properties of cornstalk, a natural biomass, is of great significance in the fields of deep-processing and reuse, preparation of biomimetic materials and so on. In this study, an electronic universal material testing machine was used in the macroscopic mechanical property test of cornstalk radial compression, axial compression, cutting, and three-point bending. The microstructure of cornstalk rind and cornstalk pith was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effect of microstructure on mechanical properties of cornstalk was revealed. Mechanical properties of cornstalk mainly depend on the pith in radial compression, and mainly depend on the rind in other loading modes, and the relationship between the mechanical properties and the microstructure of corn stalk is revealed from the microscopic scale.