DOI 10.1007/s00107-009-0394-1 ORIGINALS · ORIGINALARBEITEN Eur. J. Wood Prod. (2011) 69:27–36 Physical and mechanical properties of oriented strand lumber made from an Asian bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper Backer) Pannipa Malanit · Marius C. Barbu · Arno Frühwald Received: 17 March 2009 / Published online: 7 January 2010 © Springer-Verlag 2010 Abstract The study was conducted to determine the physical and mechanical properties as follows: modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bond, thickness swelling and water absorption of oriented strand lumber (OSL) made from the Asian bamboo Dendrocalamus asper Backer. Thirty-six lab boards were produced from these bamboo strands with two manufacturing parameters vary￾ing, i.e., four resin types (MF, MUPF, PF, and pMDI) and three levels of resin content (7, 10, and 13%). The results indicate that OSL made from bamboo strands exhibits superior strength properties compared to the commercial products made from wood for the building sector. The resin type has a significant effect on board properties. More￾over, all properties of the board improve generally with increasing resin content. With regard to the internal bond, bamboo-based OSL shows less strength than wood-based boards. The best results were obtained by using 13% pMDI content at 750 kg/m3 density. P. Malanit (✉) Walailak University, School of Engineering and Resources, 80160 Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Thailand e-mail: mpannipa@wu.ac.th M. C. Barbu “Transilvania” University Brasov, Faculty for Wood Industry, Brasov, Romania A. Frühwald University of Hamburg, Department of Wood Science, Leuschnerstr. 91, 21031 Hamburg, Germany Physikalische und mechanische Eigenschaften von Furnierstreifenholz (OSL) aus einer asiatischen Bambusart (Dendrocalamus asper Backer) Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie war die Bestimmung folgender physikalischer und mechanischer Eigenschaften von Furnierstreifenholz (Oriented Strand Lumber -OSL) aus der asiatischen Bambusart Dendrocalamus asper Backer: Biegefestigkeit, Elastizitätsmodul, Querzugfestigkeit, Di￾ckenquellung und Wasseraufnahme. Im Technikum wurden 36 Platten aus Bambusflachspänen (Strands) hergestellt, wobei zwei der Herstellungsparameter, d. h. Bindemittel￾typ und -anteil, variiert wurden. Verwendet wurden vier verschiedene Bindemittel (MF, MUPF, PF und pMDI) in jeweils drei verschiedenen Beleimgraden (7, 10, 13%). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass OSL aus Bambusstrands bessere Festigkeitseigenschaften aufweist als aus Holz gefertigte, kommerziell erhältliche Produkte für den Baubereich. Der Bindemitteltyp hat einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Plat￾teneigenschaften. Generell verbessern sich die untersuchten Eigenschaften mit der Erhöhung des Bindemittelanteils. Die Querzugfestigkeit von OSL aus Bambus ist geringer als die von holzbasierten Platten. Die besten Eigenschaften wurden mit dem Einsatz von 13% pMDI bei einer Rohdichte von 750 kg/m3 erzielt. 1 Introduction Over the past decade, the demand for wood composites as building material has continuously increased. At the same time, the quantity and quality of wood resources, from the forest, as a raw material for this application have been de￾clining. Consequently, the search for alternative or substitute materials in place of wood has come into focus. 13 28 Eur. J. Wood Prod. (2011) 69:27–36 Bamboo (Bambusoideae sp.) is a non-wood lignocel￾lulosic material that has received increasing attention as alternative raw material for use in the manufacture of paper and wood composites in the late 20th century. The main advantages of bamboo are its fast growing nature and better mechanical properties when compared to other wood species. It has traditionally been used for housing construc￾tion, furniture manufacture and articles for daily life in Asian and Latin American countries. In recent years, bam￾boo has gained greater interest as substitute material in place of wood because of the global shortage of forest resources. During recent years, several re