| Summary: | Bamboo (Poaceael/Graminaceae) has great potential for use in improving the properties of wood-based strand composite building materials. In previous work it has been shown that replacement of aspen surface strands with Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) strands significantly improves the strength and water resistance of oriented strand board (OSB) of the same density made from Aspen. Guadua (Guadua andustifolia Kunth) is one of the most commercially cultivated and used timber bamboo genera in Latin America. In this study, three experiments were designed. Six sets of 6 three-layer OSB (737 x 737 x 11.1 mm) were made with bamboo strands in the face layers and Aspen strands in the core layer. Measured board properties included internal bond, flexural properties (modulus of rupture, MOR; and modulus of elasticity, MOE), and water resistance (% thickness swell, TS; and % water absorption, WA). The 50% Guadua -50% Aspen boards (type GM) was compared with 50% Moso -50% Aspen boards (type MM) to examine the effects of bamboo species. Guadua hybrid OSB had a weaker IB strength and a higher MOE in the parallel direction. No other significant difference was found. To examine the effect of reducing board density down to an acceptable level, three board types were compared. 1) 50% Moso - 50% Aspen boards (type MM) with target density of 760 kg/m³, 2) 25% Moso - 75% Aspen boards (type ML1) with target density of 720 kg/m³, and 3) 25% Moso - 75% Aspen boards (type ML2) with lower target density of 628 kg/m³. The lowest density group had the lowest mechanical properties and water resistance ability but met the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards for industrial OSB. Another two board types were designed to examine the effect of the nodes on Guadua OSB products’ properties. 50% Guadua Node – 50% Aspen boards (type GN) showed weaker IB strength and weaker flexural properties than 50% Guadua Internode – 50% Aspen boards (type GI). === Forestry, Faculty of === Graduate
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