An investigation of the bond quality in the production of bamboo scrimber-rubberwood cross laminated timber

In this study, a brand new bamboo scrimber–rubberwood CLT (BRCLT) has been proposed, along with one-component polyurethane (PUR) adhesive. Three processing factors were considered, pressure (1.5 MPa and 2.0 MPa), glue spread rate (150 g m⁻² and 200 g m⁻²), and application of a water-based surface modifier. The bonding performance of BRCLT was examined by conducting block shear, delamination, short-span flatwise shear and four-point bending tests. It was found that (1) the optimal gluing process for fabricating BRCLT was a pressure of 2 MPa, a glue spread rate of 150 g/m⁻², and the application of a water-based surface modifier. (2) The modifier significantly reduced the delamination rate of BRCLT. (3) BRCLT produced using the optimal bonding parameters can meet V1-grade CLT in terms of maximum shear stress, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE), as stipulated in the American standard ANSI/APA PRG 320, suggesting BRCLT had a great potential to be a new member of CLT family.