Development of Bamboo Zephyr Composite and the Physical and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of fiber direction arrangement and layer composition of hybrid bamboo laminate boards on the physical and mechanical properties. The raw material used was tali bamboo (Gigantochloa apus (J.A. & J.H. Schultes) Kurs) rope in the form of flat sheets (zephyr) and falcata veneer (Paraserianthes falcataria (L) Nielsen). Zephyr bamboo was arranged in three layers using water-based isocyanate polymer (WBPI) with a glue spread rate of 300 g/m2. There were variations in the substitution of the core layer with falcata veneers (hybrid) as much as two layers and using a glue spread rate of 170 g/m2. The laminated bamboo board was cold-pressed at a pressure of 22.2 kgf/cm2 for 1 h, and the physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. The results showed that the arrangement of the fiber direction significantly affected the dimensional stability, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, shear strength, and screw withdrawal strength. However, the composition of the layers had no significant effect on the physical and mechanical properties. The bonding quality of bamboo laminate boards with WBPI was considered to be quite good, as shown by the absence of delamination in all test samples. The bamboo hybrid laminate board can be an alternative based on the physical and mechanical properties that can meet laminated board standards.