LAP Lambert Academic Publishing Bamboo Cement Bonded Composites as Alternative to Sawn Timber: Production of Value Added Cement-bonded Composites for Paneling, Core and Low Cost Housing in Rural and Urban Cities

Cement Bonded Composites were produced from the mixture of Bambusa vulgaris (Bamboo) particles and inorganic binder. The effects of three levels of Board Density (BD), Mixing Ratio (MR) and Curing Reagent Concentrations (CRC) were assessed on the behaviour of the composites. Properties assessed include dimensional stability, mechanical properties, accelerated aging and cost benefit analysis. The Water Absorption and Thickness Swelling properties decreased as the BD, MR and CRC increased. The Water Absorption values ranged from 3.40 % to 17.84 %, while the Thickness Swelling values ranged from 0.11 % to 0.73 % after 24hr immersion. The Modulus of Rupture, Modulus of Elasticity and Energy at Break increased as the Board Density, Mixing Ratio and Curing Reagent Concentration increased. The Modulus of Rupture ranged from 2.29 N/mm2 to 9.04 N/mm2 while Modulus of Elasticity ranged from 747 N/mm2 to 4573 N/mm2 and Energy at break ranged from 0.065 Nm to 0.261 Nm. In addition, Cost Benefit ratio gave a value greater than unit 1, which connotes that the project is economically viable, socially acceptable and profitable.