Performance of Oriented Strand Board Made of Heat-Treated Bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schult.) Backer) Strands

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effect of pre-heat treatment on bamboo strand properties and its impact on the properties of the resulting bamboo-oriented strand board (BOSB). Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schult.) Backer) with a density of 0.53 g cm−3 was converted into bamboo strands. These strands were pre-heat-treated at 140 and 160 °C for a duration of 1, 2, and 3 h. Changes in the chemical composition of the strand due to subsequent treatment were assessed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were used to determine the changes in the chemical composition of bamboo strands. The BOSB panels were produced with a target density of 0.7 g cm−3. The manufacturing of the BOSB was conducted in three layers with a ratio of 25:50:25, bonded with phenol-formaldehyde resin. The physical and mechanical properties of the laboratory-fabricated BOSB were tested in compliance with the criteria given in JIS A 5908 standards. Comparisons were made against OSB CSA 0437.0 Grade O-1 commercial standard. The pre-heat treatment led to chemical alterations within the material when set at 140 and 160 °C for 1 to 3 hours (h). FTIR spectral analysis demonstrated that longer exposure and higher temperatures resulted in fewer functional groups within the bamboo strands. The increased temperature and duration of pre-heat treatment enhanced the crystallinity index (CI). The dimensional stability and mechanical properties of the composites were improved significantly as hemicellulose and extractive content were reduced. This study demonstrated that the pre-heat treatment of bamboo strands at a temperature of 160 °C for a duration of 1 h was an adequate approach for heat modification and fabrication of BOSB panels with acceptable properties according to OSB CSA 0437.0 Grade O-1 commercial standard.