The properties of bamboo culms determine their possible uses. They are based mainly on the structure of the tissue, which is dealt with in some detail. According to the scope of the Tropical Forestry Handbook, the following presentation provides a general overview on the chemical compounds and physical and mechanical properties. Detailed information provides the referred literature.
Bamboo culms are a unique building material for various kinds of structures. A wider acceptance of bamboo for structural uses, however, is often hindered by its propensity to biological degradation. The preservation of bamboo structures against biological hazards is an important requirement for utilizing this valuable lignocellulose resource. Compared with the preservation of timber in tropical countries, there are certain similarities, but also considerable differences.Drying of bamboo before use is necessary since dry bamboo is stronger and less susceptible to biological degradation than moist bamboo. Furthermore, shrinkage and swelling are directly related to the moisture content. Moist bamboo affects the processing, such as machining, gluing and painting. Dimensional changes would ultimately occur if bamboo has not been dried before being used. The bamboo should be dried to the equilibrium moisture content corresponding to the service conditions before the manufacturing process.
Natural DurabilityBamboo is one of the strongest bio-based structural materials, but succumbs to physical and mechanical damage by some non-biotic factors and is susceptible to degradation by similar organisms which attack wood. Moreover, bamboo is more likely to biodeteriorate due to its starch content.
There are more than thousand uses of bamboo as a plant and especially as a culm, of which only a few can be briefly outlined. The broad spectrum of applications will be divided into uses of the living culm and of the harvested culm.In tropical countries, bamboo was one of the first materials used by mankind to increase comfort and well-being. Its wide distribution and availability, rapid rate of growth, superior technological properties, and easy handling make bamboo an ideal material for countless uses. Bamboo is sometimes still called "the poor man's timber," which is not fair, as in certain fields of application, bamboo has superior technological qualities. Since the species vary in their properties, their suitability for different products also varies. The manifold uses of bamboo have been intensively dealt with in numerous comprehensive books, partly listed under references.
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