Physical and mechanical properties of bamboo wastage cement bonded board

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the properties of cement bonded board made from bamboo wastage chips. Without giving any treatment, the ratio of bamboo wastage chips and cement were 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 and each of them having pressing time of 6, 12 and 24 h. Important physical and mechanical properties were tested and analyzed. Physical properties such as density, moisture content, water absorption and linear expansion were better than those reported in the literature. However, mechanical properties such as MOR and MOE were found lower compared with the values reported by other researchers. The board for the ratio of bamboo wastage chips and cement, 20:80 at 24 h pressing time showed the best performance for both the physical and mechanical properties. The density of the board at 24 h pressing time for 20:80, 30:70 and 40:60 boards was 1.80, 1.48 and 1.07 g/cm3 respectively. The MOE was 310, 295 and 210 N/mm2 were respectively for the ratio of 20:80, 30:70 and 40:60 at the pressing time 24 h. The properties of bamboo wastage cement bonded board indicate for the use of bamboo wastages economically using them in cement bonded particleboard industry.