Bamboo

Tumi, Arushi, Kaniska, Avadhesh

What is Bamboo?• Bamboo belongs to the grass family, Gramineae, tribe Bambuseae. It is distinguished by the special structure of its stem, or 'culm', the fact that it reaches full height in a short period, its rapid rate of growth, and its singular flowering habit.

• Bamboo does not flower annually, but once every 7 to 120 years, depending on the species. At that time, that species will flower all over the world - with variances due to environmental and horticultural influences. The parent plant may then die completely.

General Introduction

• Bamboo grows abundantly in most of the tropical countries.• It is considered a composite material because it consists of

cellulose fibers.• Cellulose fibers are aligned along the length of the bamboo

providing maximum tensile flexural strength.• Over 1200 bamboo species have been identified globally.

Physical Properties

• Bamboo is a hollow tube.• It can be glued very well.• It is highly flexible and can sustain substantial tension.• It possesses very high moisture content.• Unlike wood, bamboo has no secondary growth.• The culm of the bamboo is covered by its hard epidermis

and inner wax layer.

Chemical Properties

• The chemical composition of bamboo is similar to that of wood.

• The main constituents of bamboo culms are cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin, which amount to over 90% of the total mass.

• The minor constituents of bamboo are resins, tannins, waxes and inorganic salts.

• The natural durability of bamboo varies between 1 and 36 months depending on the species and climatic condition.

Usage of Bamboo

Bamboo shoot can be eaten fresh after boiling. However it is seasonal, so preservation is necessary for storage.

Bamboo for Construction Material

It has been extensively used for construction of roof, walls, flooring etc. of a building. This is due to it high strength.

Bamboo for Timber Substitute

As the forest reserve is depleting globally and with the concern of environment growing, timber are getting scarce day by day. This is due to long period of time taken by even soft- wood to attain maturity. So, a substitute, or if that is not possible an alternative has to be found. Bamboo is the

answer for this.

Bamboo Boards

After processing split bamboo with machines and glue, bamboo board can be produced which can be used for

almost all purposes where timber are now used.

Bamboo Mat boards

Bamboo sliced into slivers and woven, are hot pressed to produce bamboo mat board, which is superior to plywood in strength and life period.

Bamboo Strip boards

Round bamboo is made flattened either by using special techniques or by applying heat, which is then hot pressed with glue. Bamboo strip boards are used for floors of truck body, railway carriages and container. Unbroken breadth larger than available timber can be achieved with bamboo strip board.

Bamboo for Daily Uses

Versatile uses of bamboo: Bamboo has found its place in many items of daily uses which may differ from place o places.

Due to its high tensile strength, bamboo is ideal for toothpick, which is used by millions of people around the globe.

Millions of Buddhists, Hindus etc. use incense stick and bamboo has been extensive used for this item.

Chop Sticks

Steamer Bridge

Bamboo for Handicrafts

Due to its high texture, properties, high tensile strength, easy splitting possibility, and other characteristics, bamboo is a good choice of material for handicrafts.

Bamboo for Pulp in paper industry

Bamboo has been the main material for pulp in paper industries. It is still the main material and will continue so due to its short growth cycle, large biomass production and rapid vegetative multiplication.

Bamboo for Fabric

Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. The fabric is light and strong, has excellent wicking properties, and is to some extent antibacterial. It is very soft and can be worn directly next to the skin. The fiber is naturally smooth and round without chemical treatment.

Bamboo for Musical Instruments

• The bamboo flute is one of the oldest and simplest musical instruments in the world.

• Saxophone: A traditional saxophone mouthpiece, fused onto a piece of bamboo, gives these instruments an incredibly sax-like sound enjoyed by novice & experienced alike.

Environmental Impact

• Bamboo stabilizes the earth with its erosion control and prevention, and restores the health of soil by removing excess nitrogen.

• Bamboo requires no fertilizers to grow.• It absorbs 2/3 more carbon dioxide and releases 2/3 more

oxygen than any other plant on earth.• The Bamboo plant is naturally anti-bacterial, a trait which it

retains through the processing cycle and is a characteristic of the finished product.

• Bamboo is seldom eaten by pests or infected by pathogens so it thrives naturally without using pesticides.

continues...

Environmental Impact

• Bamboo will not negatively impact our environment. In fact, Bamboo plants produce highly oxygenated air and balance humidity.

• The Bamboo plant is used for watershed protection, and soil remediation. It retains water in the watershed, sustains riverbanks and helps mitigate water pollution due to its high nitrogen consumption.

Interesting Bamboo Facts

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on this planet. It has been recorded growing at an amazing 47.6 inches in a 24 hour period.

Bamboo can also tolerate extreme conditions that most plants cannot. It was actually the first plant to re-green after the atomic blast in Hiroshima in 1945.

A grove of bamboo release 35% more oxygen than an equivalent number of trees.