Bamboo Panel Boards - International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

18B A M B O O P A N E L B O A R D STable 5: Strength properties of BMB bonded with PLF resin (India)PropertiesNo. of mats used for making board2 3 5 7Density ( kg/m 3) 782 826 775 847internal bond strength (MPa)- Dry state 1.06 1.19 1.07 1.25- Wet state 1.47 1.11 0.97 1.03Surface strength by torque wrench (MPa)- Dry state 7.20 7.27 6.64 8.33- Wet state 7.00 5.88 5.93 6.17Tensile strength (MPa) 10.80 17.43 21 .18 26.18Compressive strength (MPa) 19.85 23.38 25.00 34.31Modulus of rupture (MPa) 40.09 43.97 4250 50.74Modulus of elasticity (MPa) 3 119 3 087 2 679 3 095Nail withdrawal strength (face) (N) 350 1 005 1 660 1 750Screw withdrawal strength (face) (N) 2 300 2 535 3 025 3 325At present, seven factories are manufacturing this product and the estimatedannual production is 2 000 m 3 . Standards are given in Annexes 5 and 6.Some of the end-uses for which this panel is found suitable, in conformity torelevant national standards, are:" Housing - doors (Figs. 6, 7), partitions, panelling, furniture, cladding;" Packaging - fruit packing cases (Fig. 8), ammunition boxes;" Storage - grain storage bins (both internal and external) (Fig. 9); and" Transport - bullock carts (Fig. l0), horse/mule drawn carriages.THAILANDBMB is being produced since 1985, mostly for export to European countries. UFresin is used to bond mat board of l-10 mm thickness. At present, two factories areproducing the boards and each is following technology developed in-house. Vitalinformation is neither published nor readily disclosed. The boards are attractive, butuses are limited on account of the resin employed. The process is as follows:" Conversion of culms into strips and thereafter slivers, mechanically;" Weaving of slivers into mats (both manually and mechanically) of variousattractive patterns;" Coating UF resin;" Hot-pressing;