Strength Performance and Microstructure Characteristic of Naturally-Bonded Fiberboard Composite from Malaysian Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris)

• Published in: Journal of renewable materials Vol. 10; no. 10; pp. 2581 - 2591
• Main Authors: Anuar Bahari, Shahril, Nazarudin Zakaria, Mohd, Osman, Syaiful, Abu, Falah, Jani Saad, Mohamad, Hosseinpourpia, Reza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Byggteknik; Civil engineering
• ISSN: 2164-6341; 2164-6325
• DOI: 10.32604/jrm.2022.021313

This study investigated the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of fiberboard composite produced by naturally-bonded Malaysian bamboo fiber (Bambusa vulgaris). The components that obtained through soda pulping of bamboo culms such as fiber and black liquor, were used for the preparation of high-density fibreboard composite at two target densities of 850 and 950 kg/m 3 . The bamboo fiberboard composite (BFC) were then produced at 200°C and two pressing parameters of 125 and 175 s/mm. The mechanical properties, e.g., flexural strength and internal bonding (IB) of BFC samples were evaluated according to BS EN 310: 1993 and BS EN 319: 1993, respectively. It was found that the mechanical performance of the composite with 850 kg/m 3 density was significantly higher than 950 kg/m 3 ones, especially for the samples with 125 s/mm pressing parameter. Microstructure characteristic of the BFC samples illustrated that the fiber linkages were cracked in the composites with higher density, e.g., the composite with the density of 950 kg/m 3 and also black liquor were slightly degraded at longer pressing time, which led to the reduction in mechanical properties, especially in IB strength.