The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Compreg Laminated Bamboo Strips Lumber (LBSL) of G. scortechinii

Abstract

The chapter explores the effect of resin concentration and pre-drying time on the physical and mechanical properties of compreg-laminated bamboo strips lumber (LBSL) from G. scortechinii species. The compreg LBSL panels were manufactured using two concentrations of low-molecular-weight phenol formaldehyde (LMwPF) resin, that is, 100 and 70% at three different pre-drying times (12, 18, and 24 h). Based on the findings, the panel with 70% of LMwPF required a longer time and higher temperature to cure than the panel with 100% LMwPF. The weight percent gain (WPG) and moisture content of the panels increased in line with increasing resin concentration but decreased with increasing pre-drying time. The opposite trend is indicated by density. As for the mechanical properties, the strength of the panel increases along with the increase in resin concentration and pre-drying time. However, for high-concentration resins, prolonging the pre-drying time reduces the strength of the sample. The highest flexural strength and tensile strength were observed in the 100/18 sample with values of 260 and 27 MPa, respectively. The results for formaldehyde emissions show panels with lower resin concentrations: 70% LMwPF and prolonged pre-drying time reduce formaldehyde emission levels.