Characteristics of Three Bamboo Species and Their Potential as Raw Materials for Oriented Strand Board Production

Indonesia, with its vast forested regions, has experienced significant deforestation, adversely affecting the wood industry. As a result, alternative sources of lignocellulosic biomass are required to mitigate this impact. Among the abundant lignocellulosic raw materials in Indonesia, particularly in Sumatra, bamboo stands out as a promising substitute. Bamboo is a highly versatile resource, suitable for various applications, including its use as a composite raw material to replace traditional wood-based products. This research work aimed to investigate and evaluate the characteristics—morphology, anatomy, physical and mechanical properties, chemical composition, starch content, and natural resistance—of three bamboo species: hitam bamboo (Gigantochloa atroviolacea), betung bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper), and belangke bamboo (Gigantochloa pruriens), as well as their suitability for the production of oriented strand boards (OSB). The lumen values of the bamboo samples ranged between 10 and 15 μm, with hitam and betung bamboo exhibiting medium-thickness cell walls (>5 μm). Based on fiber dimension analysis, belangke, and betung bamboo are classified within quality class II, whereas hitam bamboo falls into class I. The highest recorded tensile, shear, and compressive mechanical strength values were observed at the tips of hitam bamboo, measuring 563.43 MPa, 15 MPa, and 6.87 kN/mm2, respectively. The bamboo samples underwent three different treatments: (1) immersion in water for 24 h, (2) autoclaving at 120°C for 1 h, and (3) a control group with no treatment. OSB panels were produced with dimensions of 20 cm × 20 cm × 1 cm (length × width × thickness) using isocyanate adhesive and conditioned for 14 days. The physical and mechanical properties of the OSBs were evaluated based on the Japan Industrial Standard (JIS) A 5908:2003 and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) 0437.0:2011 criteria. The density of the laboratory-produced OSB panels ranged from 0.60 to 0.73 g/cm3, moisture content varied from 5.4% to 8.1%, water absorption ranged between 31.6% and 45.8%, and thickness swelling was recorded at 5.1% to 16.3%. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) ranged from 2745.1 to 7813.3 MPa, the modulus of rupture (MOR) from 30.8 to 58.8 MPa, and internal bonding (IB) from 0.27 to 0.47 MPa. Overall, all OSB panels produced in this study met the specifications outlined in JIS A 5908 (2003) and CSA 0437.0 (2011), demonstrating the viability of these bamboo species as raw materials for OSB production.