cellulose–hemicellulose–lignin
ChemistryBamboo is specified as cellulose–hemicellulose–lignin. Density band ~0.6–0.8 g/cm³ culm.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength58
Heat resistance28
Fire performance32
Insulation40
Workability84
Circularity86
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Bamboo non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: untreated D-class typical; treated products vary. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Bamboo insulate?
Thermal mark 40/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: ~0.1–0.2 W/m·K across the wall.
What is the density band?
~0.6–0.8 g/cm³ culm
How is it made?
Origin story: ancient scaffolding; industrial strand board late 20th c. (East and South Asia).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 86/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
chars; does not melt
heat 28 · fire 32
What holds Bamboo together is not the nickname. Formula cellulose–hemicellulose–lignin, density ~0.6–0.8 g/cm³ culm.
Meters are atlas-relative. Grades are the SKUs buyers write.
Phases
Microstructure
OrderProcessing sets grain, crystallinity or fibre orientation — the reason two lots of Bamboo can test differently.
Interfaces
SurfacesCoatings, oxide films, sizings or paper faces often decide weather and fire behaviour more than the bulk brochure.
Defects
FlawsInclusions, voids, knots, pinholes or residual stress start the failures that mill certificates do not list.
Grades
VariantsBamboo is a family. Grade names below are the ones buyers actually write on RFQs.
Ageing
TimeMoisture, UV, creep, hydrogen or carbonation shift properties in service. Design to the aged state.
Relative meters
Strength58
Strength is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Heat envelope28
Heat envelope is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Fire behaviour32
Fire behaviour is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Insulation40
Insulation is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Workability84
Workability is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Circularity86
Circularity is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Grades
Natural culm
Scaffold, furniture, Guadua.Scaffold, furniture, Guadua.
Horizontal ply
Nodes visible, flooring.Nodes visible, flooring.
Vertical ply
Narrower grain look.Narrower grain look.
Strand / scrimber
Dense, resin-heavy.Dense, resin-heavy.
Outdoor treated
Heat or chemical, still not a fire certificate.Heat or chemical, still not a fire certificate.
Bonds
Primary bonding
Bamboo holds together by ionic/covalent networks.
Secondary forces
Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals stacks or grain-boundary cohesion set toughness and moisture uptake.
Composites & fills
Fillers, fibres, plasticisers or aggregates are part of the real product, not impurities.
Environment film
Oxides, chars, sizings or paints are the layer the world actually meets.
Change the grade, the coating or the moisture and you have a different material with the same English name.
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