Stéphane Schröder (/preservation/?author=53407b1be4b01b8f6b772224)  ·  November

30, 2014 (/preservation/durability-of-bamboo)

Durability of BambooWithout any protective treatment, most bamboo species have an average natural

durability of less than 2 years. Stored under cover, untreated bamboo may last 4-7 years.

These variations in bamboo durability strongly depend on the species, the length of the

culm, the thickness of the wall, but also, and equally important, the time of harvesting

(/cultivation/when-and-how-to-harvest-bamboo). 

The lower portion of the bamboo culm is

considered more durable, while the soft

inner part of the wall deteriorates faster

than the outer harder portion. This is

related to the anatomical and chemical

nature of the woody cells. Although some

of the characteristics of bamboo resemble

those of wood, its growth characteristics

and microstructure is different. Unlike

timber varieties like teak, the structure of

bamboo is void of toxic deposits.

The large amounts of starch present in bamboo makes it highly attractive to mold and

fungi, termites and powder-post beetles. They cause much damage during drying,

storage, and subsequent use. Tests have also shown that bamboo is more prone to soft

rot and white rot attack than to brown rot.

Bamboo consists of 50-70% hemicellulose, 30% pentosans, and 20-25% lignin. The lignin

present in bamboos is unique, and undergoes changes during the growth of the

culm. Bamboo is also known to be rich in silica (0.5 to 4%), but the entire silica is

located in the outer layer (1 mm), with hardly any silica in the rest of the wall. Bamboos

also have minor amounts of waxes, resins and tannins, but none of these have enough

toxicity to improve its natural durability.

The Importance Bamboo Preservation

Many developing counties (where most

Preservation

Chemical Treatment

(/preservation/?

tag=Chemical+Treatment)

Drying Bamboo

(/preservation/?

tag=Drying+Bamboo)

Durability of Bamboo

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tag=Durability+of+Bamboo)

Insect Infestation

(/preservation/?

tag=Insect+Infestation)

Leaching Bamboo

(/preservation/?

tag=Leaching+Bamboo)

Mold and Fungus

(/preservation/?

tag=Mold+and+Fungus)

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Tagged: Durability of Bamboo (/preservation/?tag=Durability+of+Bamboo)

Why is the "Bamboo Preservation" done horizontal and not vertical or in a angel?

Now many air will stay in the bamboo and where there is air there is no liquid?

Thanks.

Older Post

Bamboo Insect Infestation

(/preservation/bamboo-insect-infestation)

Many developing counties (where most

bamboos grow) suffer a lack of

awareness and professional

treatment facilities. Furthermore, not all

curing methods ensure satisfying results

which leads to uncertainties about the

advantages of using bamboo all together.

A lot of bamboos used for structural

purposes in rural housing are untreated

(or the wrong species) and deteriorate in

just a couple of years, hence the reason

bamboo is still considered as a poor

man's timber.

Not only does the incorrect use affect the

reputation of bamboo, it also puts heavy

pressure on the resource, since frequent

replacement is necessary.

Chemical preservatives (/preservation/chemical-bamboo-preservation) should be used

to protect bamboo products from such degradation. These are well established methods

providing good protection even in adverse conditions.

The selection of the appropriate treatment method depends on various factors:

State of the bamboo; green or dry.

Form of the bamboo: round bamboo or splits.

End applications; in ground contact, exposed to atmosphere, undercover,

structural/non-structural.

Scale; quantity to be treated and available time.

Potential causes of decay; biotic (fungus/insects) and abiotic (cracks/weathering).

We think it is important to promote the correct use of bamboo in order to increase the

durability, utilization, and popularity of this versatile and environmentally friendly material.

Increasing the shelve-life of bamboo to 50 years or more is certainly possible by

applying the appropriate treatments which is also more economical and sustainable in

the long run.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Durability of Bamboo(/preservation/durability-of-bamboo)

Bamboo Insect Infestation(/preservation/bamboo-insect-infestation)

How to Remove BambooMold (/preservation/how-to-remove-bamboo-mold)

Leaching Bamboo(/preservation/leaching-bamboo)

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Albert000  8 months ago     

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