The chemical compositions of cultivated 3 year-old bamboo culms of Gigantochloa brang, G. levis, G. scortechinii and G. wrayi were studied. The culms exhibited different chemical composition in extractives, α-cellulose, lignin and ash contents between the bamboo species, location in the culms and position at the nodes and internodes. The extractive content in four species ranged from 8.30 to 9.23%. The extractive content of G.brang, G.levis, G.scortechinii and G.wrayi were 8.30%, 9:23%, 8:00% and 8.62% respectively. The holocellulose content for G. levis were 85.08%, G. wrayi 84.53%, G. brang 79.94% and G. scortechinii 74.62%. The holocellulose content for the cultivated bamboo genus Gigantochloa were 74% to 85%. The α-cellulose is the chemical constituents in the holocellulose. The highest was G.brang (51.58%) followed by G. scortechinii (46.87%), G. wrayi (37.66%) and G. levis (33.80%). The lignin content ranged between 24.84 to 32.65%. The highest were obtained in G. scortechinii (32.55%), G. wrayi (30.04%), G. levis (26.50%) and lowest in G. brang (24.83%). The ash content in four species of Gigantochloa bamboo ranged between 0.88 to 2.86%. The ash content is the highest in G. scortechinii (2.83%) follow by G. levis (1.29%), G. brang (1.25%) and the lowest in G. wrayi (0.88%).

This paper investigates the effect of heat treatment on Semantan bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) with emphasis given to their properties and durability. Matured four-year-old bamboo culms were harvested and subjected to high temperature condition using palm oil as a heating media. Two groups of samples, green and air-dried, were used. The temperatures applied were 140 • C, 180 • C and 220 • C, with exposure duration of 30, 60 and 90 min, respectively. The results of the investigations show that the heat-treated bamboos retained most of their original physical and strength properties after undergoing the heat treatment. Green or air-dried bamboo culms can be dried to an MC of 6-7% within 2-3 h of treatment. The basic densities of bamboo were found to improve slightly by the heat application. The overall strengths properties of the heat-treated bamboo were found to decrease. The modulus of elasticity in the bending strengths was reduced between 2 and 33% in the green-and 6-9% in the air-dried conditions. For the modulus of rupture in the bending strengths, the value was reduced between 1 and 23% in green-and 4-16% in air-dried conditions. The compression strengths were reduced in the range between 2 and 3% in green-and 2-35% in air-dried conditions. The shear strengths were reduced in the range between 16 and 24% and 12-24% in in green-and air-dried conditions, respectively.

No abstract

No abstract

Effect of oil heat treatment on physical properties of 3 years old Gigantochloa scortechinii Gamble bamboo was investigated. The bamboo splits within epidermis were heat-treated using crude palm oil at temperature 140°C, 180°C and 220°C for duration 30 and 60 min. The objectives were to determine the effect of oil heat treatment on physical properties of the heat-treated bamboo and to assess any significant changes on physical properties of the heat-treated bamboo. Untreated bamboo was used as comparison for each treatment conditions. The results indicated equilibrium moisture content (EMC), density and volumetric shrinkage of heat-treated bamboo decreased as the treatment temperature and time increases. The EMC and density reduction were 4-27% and 11-18% approximately. This study indicated that bamboo became less hygroscopic when subjected to higher temperature and longer heat treatment time. Volumetric shrinkage of bamboo was also reduced by the treatment conditions (17-53%). The shrinkage properties of bamboo were inversely proportional to the treatment conditions, indicating that oil heat treatment successfully imparts the dimensional stability of the bamboo.

No abstract

No abstract

The physical and strength properties of bio-composite lumbers from agricultural residues of oil palm fronds were studied. Resins of phenol formaldehyde and urea formaldehyde were used as the binders. The oil palm fronds were obtained from an oil palm plantation in Kota Belud, Sabah. The fronds were segregated into three (3) groups of matured, intermediate and young of oil palm fronds. The leaflets and the epidermis were removed from the fronds before they were sliced longitudinally into thin layers. The layers were then compressed into uniform thickness of 2-3 mm. The layers were air-dried and later mixed with resins using 12-15% of phenol and urea formaldehyde and recompressed with other layers forming the bio-composite lumbers. The bio-composite lumbers were then tested for their physical and strength properties. Testing was conducted in accordance to the International Organization for standardization (ISO) standard. The result on the physical and strength properties shows that the oil palm fronds bio-composite lumbers to be at par with solid rubberwood. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between bio-composite lumbers made from each groups and portion, but no differences were observed in the type of resin used. The bio-composite lumbers from oil palm fronds agricultural residues has potential to be used as an alternative to wood to overcome the shortage in materials in the wood industry.