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Bamboo particles as reinforcement in composite materials are prospective to be applied to particleboard products in the industry. This study aimed to synthesize bamboo particle reinforced polymer composites as a substitute for particleboard products, which still use wood as a raw material. The parameters of the composite synthesis process were varied with powder sizes of 50, 100, and 250 mesh, each mesh with volume fractions of 10, 20, and 30%, matrix types of polyester and polypropylene, Tali Bamboo, and Haur Hejo Bamboo as reinforcements. Characterization included tensile strength, flexural strength, and morphology. Particleboard products were tested based on JIS A 5908-2003, including density testing, moisture content, thickness expansion after immersion in water, flexural strength in dry and wet conditions, bending Young’s modulus, and wood screw holding power. The results showed that the maximum flexural and tensile strength values of 91.03 MPa and 30.85 MPa, respectively, were found in polymer composites reinforced with Tali bamboo with the particle size of 250 mesh and volume fraction 30%. Particleboard made of polypropylene and polyester reinforced Tali Bamboo with a particle size of 250 mesh and a volume fraction of 30% composites meets the JIS A 5908-2003 standard.

Organo layered silicates (OLS) were successfully synthesized from Tapanuli clay through an intercalated ultrasonic method using hexadecyltrimethylamonium bromide ( HDTMABr ) as a cation exchange agent. Tapanuli clay–epoxy nanocomposites were also successfully synthesized with an in-situ polymerization. X-Ray Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results demonstrated a pattern of clay morphology typically found in nanocomposite systems. Although the nanocomposites' diffractogram showed an exfoliation structure, the TEM findings confirmed that the OLS d -spacing is between 2.58 nm (the minimum value) up to 14.74 nm (the maximum value); which indicates the nanocomposites posses a mixed structure between intercalated and exfoliated structures. It was found that the presence of 1wt% Tapanuli organo clay in the epoxy systems provides higher stiffness and higher Heat Deflection Temperature by 30 % and 7 % respectively.