Bamboo Panel Boards - International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

4BAMBOO PANEL BOARDSAs bamboo panel products have not been accorded uniformly distinctivecategorization in compilation of statistics, reliable production data are not available.Absence of reliable production and market statistics is a severe handicap inevaluating the current status and future prospects of bamboo boards. Projectionshave, however, pointed out the important role of bamboo boards in view ofdiminishing wood supplies.In the absence of standard test methods and generation of standardizedinformation on properties, such as those that exist for wood-based panels, datafor individual products are presented in the way in which they were reported. Untiltest methods are standardized and format of reporting data on properties andperformance harmonized, it would be difficult to accurately compare productsmanufactured in different regions or countries. In this respect, Annex 2 providesdata on some products, as a step towards standardization.Types of BoardsBased on the culm derivatives used, the boards may be grouped in the followingcategories:" Culms converted into slivers, strips or laths by flattening and/or cutting, andfurther processed;. Culms peeled into veneers and further processed;" Culms converted into particles, fibers, wafers or strands and reconstituted; and" Combination of one or more of above products among themselves or withother materials and further processed (termed in this report as composites). Suchcomposites include: different bamboo panels; wood or other lignocellulosic materials;and inorganic substances.Boards from slivers, strips or lathsSlivers of uniform thickness and width are woven into mats, following traditionalor innovative designs and cold or hot-pressed into boards to produce:Bamboo mat boardIn China, India, the Philippines andVietnam.Corrugated sheet Surface finished or laminated in China,India, the Philippines and Vietnam for usein roofing.Strips/slivers assembled in layers and bonded under pressure to produce:Parallel gluelamParallel curved gluelam (lamboo)Bamboo curtain boardTo a limited extent in China.In Taiwan-China region for furniture.In China.