Water resistance and mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber composite made from different units of Bambusa chungii as a function of resin content

Abstract

Bamboo units form basic components of bamboo scrimber composite (BSC), directly affecting the composite’s characteristics and performance. In this study, the water resistance and mechanical properties of BSCs containing different resin percentages were investigated. BSCs were made from bamboo bundles (BSC-I) and oriented bamboo fiber mat (BSC-II) of Bambusa chungii via mechanical decomposition followed by molding recombination. Water resistance of BSCs increased with rising resin content, specifically, with increased thickness swelling rate. BSC-II with a resin content of 25% met the level for high-class outdoor-use bamboo scrimber flooring products. Notably, the resin content and mechanical properties of BSCs were marginally correlated. In addition, BSC-II was more water resistant but had lower mechanical strength compared to BSC-I. The bending strength and modulus of all BSCs were greater than 200 MPa and 22 GPa, respectively. With the selection of appropriate bamboo unit processing methods and resin content for outdoor flooring and building construction, B. chungii is an attractive option for BSC products owing to its properties of water resistance and mechanical strength.