OPTIMIZATION OF PERFORMANCE OF BAMBOO MAT CORRUGATED SHEETS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

In this study, a bamboo composite with a corrugated structure, bamboo mat corrugated sheets (BMCS), was manufactured. As subset of the response surface methodology, Box-Behnken design was used for designing experiments, statistically modeling the processing conditions-properties relationships, and for identification of the potentially optimum conditions for BMCS. Three variables (MC, pressing temperature, and pressing time) at three levels were studied. Results showed that all the tested properties (deformation ratio, failing load, bending strength, and impact strength) were best described by quadratic regression models. Keeping MC at higher level significantly decreased the deformation ratio. All the three factors and interactions between any two of them were significant model terms for failing load. Pressing temperature, pressing time, and their interactions were significant model terms for bending strength. The interaction effect of MC and the other two factors was significant for impact strength. The best optimized conditions were determined using a desirability function approach to be MC 12.3%, pressing temperature 146.2 degrees C, and pressing time 12.8 min that optimized 1.8% for deformation ratio, 542 N for failing load, 185.7 MPa for bending strength, and 36.5 kJ/m(2) for impact strength of BMCS.