Some important properties of strandboard manufactured from andong bamboo (Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea)

Andong bamboo (Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea) is one of the most important bamboo species widely planted in West Java, Indonesia, and play a prominent role in the rural economy. The bottom and the middle parts of Andong bamboo culms are suitable for laminated bamboo lumber raw material. To improve the efficiency of bamboo utilization, the upper part of Andong bamboo culms were use as raw material for strandboard production. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of strand length and specific pressure on the properties of bamboo strandboard. Laboratory scale of bamboo strandboards were fabricated using three different strand lengths (75, 100, and 150 mm), two different specific pressures applied (25 kg/cm2 and 30 kg/cm2) and glued with phenol formaldehyde with the targeted density of 0.75 g/cm3. Some physical and mechanical properties of bamboo strandboards were determined. Results showed that the average physical properties of bamboo srandboards were 9.3% (moisture content), 0.76 g/cm3 (density), 3.1% (thickness swelling), 1.6% (wide expansion), and 25.1% (water absorpsion). The average mechanical properties of bamboo srandboards were 760.5 kgf/cm2 (MOR), 92.3 103kgf/cm2 (MOE), 5.6 kgf/cm2 (IB), and 56.5 kgf (screw holding power). Some physical and mechanical properties of bamboo strandboard were significantly affected by strand length and specific pressure.