Wood chemistry

The rate of interaction between the CS2 and the alkali solution was studied in presence as well as in absence of cellulose.The sulphide and trithiocarbonate were considerably higher in presence of cellulose, even in the earliest period of the reaction where it was still far away from the equilibrium state; this is most probably due to catalytic, respectively autocatalytic effect of the cellulose. Increasing the agitation velocity resulted into higher rates of sulphide and thiocarbonate formation, either in presence or in absence of cellulose proving that the reaction is mainly a diffusion one. Emulsion xanthation is chiefly governed by the diffusion of the CS2 into the alkali solution and to a lesser extent by the diffusion of the dissolved CS2 into the cellulose fibres. Hence, reactivity or rate curves measurements, by applying light agitation, are considerably governed by the rate of diffusion of CS2 into the alkali solution, rather than the rate of diffusion of CS2 into the pulp supermolecular structure. Therefore, no accurate differentiation between the pulps according to their supermolecular resistance to diffusion could be obtained. On the other hand, intensifying the agitation velocity accelerates both diffusion processes and thus diminishes as well the diffusion resistance due to pulp supermolecular structure leading to slight differences between pulps. The diffusion of CS2 into the alkali solution was considerably eliminated by including or occluding the fibres with CS2 before adding the alkali solution. Xanthation was then carried out by applying the lightest possible agitation velocity. In this way, the rate of the reaction is mainly governed by diffusion resistance due to the pulp supermolecular structure and good differentiation between pulps was obtained.
By this method, CS2 less than 50% based on cellulose and 10% NaOH were sufficient to dissolve cellulose, especially of low DP, till 12 % conc. Inclusion respectively occlusion before or after partial alkalization in one or more step was favorable in technical fibrous xanthation.

Quinones and their derivatives are the main causes on the natural termite resistance in teak wood. By using different termite test methods, the previous paper in this series reported on the termite resistance of teak trees of juvenile ages (8-and 22-year old trees). In this study, the radial distribution of quinones (tectoquinone, lapachol, desoxylapachol and its isomer) and squalene in the different extracting solvents (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) were analyzed by means of gas chromatography. Appreciable tree to tree variations were observed in extractive component contents even in the same stand. Each solvent gave different tendencies in analysis of variance of component contents. Significant differences in desoxylapachol or its isomer, and squalene content were found among the outer heartwood of 8-and 22-year old trees, as well as between the inner and outer parts of the heartwood. The highest correlation degree between extractive content and its components was measured in the tectoquinone content (r=-0.68). By using paper disc method, only modest correlations were observed between the mass loss and the content of isodesoxylapachol (r=-0.60) in the sapwood region whereas no significant corellations were measured in the heartwood region.

The chemical contents in cultivated 3 year-old bamboo culms of Gigantochloa brang, G. levis, G. scortechinii and G. wrayi were studied. Different composition were exhibited in the extractives, holocellulose, α-cellulose, lignin, and ash contents between the four (4) 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%).

Mahogany woods from community forests generally have relatively low qualities due to lack of maintenance activities and for their young harvesting stage. Heat treatment is known as wood modification method that could improve the quality of the wood. The aim of this study was to determine the interaction effect of temperature and method of heat treatment on the chemical properties of young mahogany wood. Materials used in this research were mahogany wood boards from community forest which were heat-treated using oven and steam methods performed at the temperature of 90°C, 120°C, and 150 o C for 2 hours. In this research, some chemical changes were analyzed. Results of the research showed that the interaction of temperature and heat treatment method gave a significant decreasing on the pentosan amount, and hot-water extractive solubility, particularly the steaming at 150 o C. The increasing temperature of heat treatment significantly decreased the content of holocellulose, α-cellulose, hemicellulose, and pH values whereas it increased lignin content, extractives (cold-water and alcohol-benzene extractives) and solubility in 1% NaOH. Steaming method provided lower levels in the content of holocellulose, ethanol-benzene extract, cold-water solubility, and pH values compared to the oven heating. However, the steaming method over 120 0 C should be considered as it would reduce the wood strengths.

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of time and temperature activation on bagasse activated charcoal quality and the chemical structure of bagasse activated charcoal. The study was designed in a completely random design with 3 x 3 factorial, each treatment was 5 times repeated. Bagasse was carbonized in an electrical retort at 400oC for 3.5 hours, then activated at 800oC, 900oC and 1000oC for 30, 60 and 90 minutes at each temperature. The quality of bagasse activated charcoal showed that the yield was 72.565 ~ 91.7845%, 5.9 ~ 9.58% moisture content, 39.7 ~ 52.7% volatile matter, 18.4 ~ 25.3% ash content, 26.3 ~ 36.7% fixed carbon, 8.44 ~ 13.4% benzena adsorption, 1036.182 ~ 1474.329 (mg/g) iodium adsorption, 121.913 ~ 124.801 (mg/g) methylene blue adsorption. The surface area of bagasse activated charcoal was 250.45 m2/gr. The FTIR analysis indicated that surface of bagasse activated charcoal contained bonding of C-X, S═O, C-N, N-H and C═C. The SEM analysis showed that there were wide pore diameter and plenty of pores. The application of bagasse activated charcoal at two villages reduced the color, turbidity and iron contents until to 65%, 30% manganese contents while hardness of water and pH didn’t change.

Rattans had many uses and acknowledged to be associated with the rural communities in Malaysia as well as all over the world where these materials are found. Lately, however, the role and importance of rattans in the daily use are decreasing swallowed by modernization. Recognizing this, various efforts are made by the scientists and researchers to find new methods to take advantage of the diversity of the uses of rattans to be at par with life today.
In most aspects of rattans utilization, they are often vulnerable to the attack of microorganisms such as fungi (occurring at the level of moisture content above the fiber saturation point), insects, borers, termites, and fungi. The service lives of rattans are subjected to their biological deterioration. The durability of rattans and their products are dependent on the climatic conditions and the environment in which they are used. To overcome these problem rattans are normally oil cured in treatment tank with diesel as the heating medium in enhancing their shelf life. 
The handbook is divided into 16 Chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 describe the introduction and the general morphology of rattans plants. Chapter 3 discussed the various propagation techniques in rattans cultivation.  Rattans cultivated in the natural forests and rattans interplanting in various trees plantations are described in Chapters 4 and 5 respectively. Chapter 6 discussed the physical and mechanical properties of rattans culms. Chapter 7 described the rattans harvesting techniques.
Chapter 8 discussed on the rattans primary processing that include deglazing, oil-curing process, drying, fumigation, bleaching, and rattans grading.  Chapter 9 described the techniques used in rattans treatment especially on the oil-curing process. Processing of rattans cores and skins are discussed in Chapter 10. Chapter 11 described the rattans furniture industry. Chapter 12 explained on various finishing techniques that could be applied in enhancing the appearances of the rattans products. Rattans products are described in Chapter 13. The durability is presented in Chapter 14. Chapter 15 described on the cost structure and economics aspects in setting up of the rattans-based industry. Finally, Chapter 16 gives an overall conclusion on the book of rattans.
This handbook is written to provide first-hand information to the public, and the would-be investors in rattans cultivation, processing and products manufacturing.

Novel composite materials having desired performance properties can be developed by nanotechnology. The major objective of this research was to produce nanomaterial-reinforced particleboard composites with enhanced physical and mechanical performance. Urea formaldehyde adhesive used to produce particleboard composites was reinforced with nanoSiO2, nanoAl2O3, and nanoZnO at loading level of 0%, 1%, and 3%. To evaluate physical properties density, thickness swelling, water absorption, and equilibrium moisture content were determined while modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, bonding strength, and screw withdrawal strength tests were carried out to evaluate mechanical properties of the particleboard composites. The results acquired in this work revealed that nanomaterial reinforcement technique significantly affected the physical and mechanical performance properties of the particleboard composites. The findings showed that the modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, bonding s...

The market for new durable products of modified wood has increased substantially during the last few years, especially in Europe. This increased interest depends partly on the restricted use of toxic preservatives due to increased environmental concern, as well as the need for reduced maintenance for wood products that are mainly for exterior use. Furthermore, as sustainability becomes a greater concern, the environmental impact of construction and interior materials should be included in planning by considering the entire life cycle and embodied energy of the materials used. As a result, wood modification has been implemented to improve the intrinsic properties of wood, widen the range of sawn timber applications, and acquire the form and functionality desired by engineers, without bringing environmental friendliness into question. The different wood modification processes are at various stages of development , and the challenges that must be overcome to expand to industrial applications differ amongst them. In this paper, three groups of wood modification processes are discussed and exemplified with modified wood products that have been newly introduced to the market: (i) chemical processing (ace-tylation, furfurylation, resin impregnation etc.); (ii) thermo-hydro processing (thermal treatment); and (iii) thermo-hydro-mechanical processing (surface densification). Building on these examples, the paper will discuss the environmental impact assessment of modification processes and further development needs.

Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell is one of pulp woods that is being developed through breeding plantation programs
in Indonesia. The research aimed at exploring the chemical and morphological characteristics of fiber, and
to determine the rank of plus trees from 4 provenances based on the suitability for pulps. The materials included
the plus trees of E. pellita (9 years) from the 2nd generation of progeny tests in Pelaihari, South Borneo.
Wood properties under investigation included the chemical properties and morphological fiber characteristics (fiber dimensions and its derived properties). In the present study, data were analyzed using descriptive statistic, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Pearson’s correlation. Results showed that the chemical properties of E. pellita, i.e. the contents of ethanol-toluene extractives, hot water soluble extractives, holocellulose, alphacelullose, and lignin were 3.08 ± 1.00%, 1.41 ± 0.38%, 75.26 ± 2.58%, 49.02 ± 2.88%, and 29.49 ± 1.86%, respectively. The average values of wood fiber morphology were 1.02 ± 0.08 mm (fiber length), 13.25 ± 1.64 μm (fiber diameter), of 6.94 ± 1.70 μm (lumen diameter), 3.15 ± 0.52 μm (fiber wall thickness), 0.97 ± 0.30 (Runkel ratio), 0.57 ± 0.10 (Luce’s shape factor), 78.21 ± 10.34 (slenderness ratio) and 130.91 ± 33.77 × 103 μm3 (solids factor). The AHP scoring rank indicated that the best individuals were 28.4.3.28 (Kiriwo Utara), 12.1.5.28 (North Kiriwo), 19.11.5.45 (Serisa Village), 3.8.4.9 (South Kiriwo), and 6.6.3.15 (South Kiriwo). Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlations between the levels of fiber length with alpha-cellulose content (r = 0.39) as well as the fiber length with ethanol-toluene extractive contents (r = -0.41).

Chemical properties of 32 teak woods representing 3 different diameter classes (slow, medium, and fast growth-rate) at the same age class were evaluated. The content of cell wall component and extractives of outer heartwood part were determinated according to ASTM and TAPPI standard. The extractives components of wood were characterized by Gas-Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS). By analysis of variance, there was not significant difference among the growth-rate in the content of holocellulose, α-cellulose, pentosan, Klason lignin, acid soluble lignin, ash, and hot-water soluble extractives. The diameter class significantly affected the ethanol-benzene soluble extractives which faster growth-rate trees tend to have higher values than those of slower growth-rate trees. However, based on GC and GC-MS, there was not significant differences in the levels of major components of ethanol-benzene extracts both of quinones (deoxylapachol and its isomer, lapachol, tectoquinone, and tectol) and non-quinones (palmitic acid and squalene).

Plants have evolved their lignocellulosic cell walls through complex structural and chemical mechanisms to protect itself against microbial attacks, which makes native lignocellulosic biomass recalcitrant to enzymatic deconstruction. Pretreatment is a crucial step in the biological conversion of biomass as it can render structural changes in the plant cell wall to reduce the biomass recalcitrance, thus enhancing its sugar release performance. There have been many efforts to develop effective pretreatment technologies to overcome the biomass re-calcitrance with a primary focus on the efficient conversion of biomass carbohydrates to liquid fuels, while lignin is significantly underutilized despite its bulk amount and high-value opportunities. In this study, the effects of two recent organosolv pretreatment strategies, co-solvent enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation (CELF) and γ-Valerolactone (GVL) pretreatments, on physicochemical properties of poplar were investigated and compared with the effects of conventional ethanol organosolv pretreatment. Diverse physicochemical properties of biomass including chemical compositions, molecular weights of cellulose and lignin, aromatics and inter-unit linkages of lignin, lignin hydroxyl group contents, cellulose crystallinity, and accessible surface area of cellulose were analyzed before and after pretreatments. The results revealed how each organic solvent pretreatment system affected biomass structural characteristics and recalcitrance.

The literature relating to the pKa-values of guaiacyl- and syringyl-derived phenols has been thoroughly surveyed and summarized. In addition, the pKa-values of a number of guaiacyl, syringyl and other phenols related to lignin have been determined using a spectrophotometric method combined with multivariate evaluation. Differences and similarities between the acidities of a number of substances are extensively discussed. The pKa-value strongly affects the delignification during pulping, bleaching and leaching of lignin during pulp washing.

This study was aimed at finding out the chemical and colour properties of keruing (Dipterocarpus humeratus), mersawa (Anisoptera laevis) and kapur (Dryobalanops keithii) timbers as their limited information up to now. Tree samples were obtained from Muara Wahau forest, East Borneo. Sapwood and heartwood then were cut from the base parts of the trees. Chemical examinations refered to ASTM standard. Colour measurements were performed through CIELAB coordinate system. The results of extractive measurements of 3 species showed that the amounts of ethanol-toluene extractive (ETE) ranged from 2.37-4.60 % in the sapwood (SW) and 2.58-4.81 % in the heartwood (HW), hot-water solubles (HWS) ranged from 2.14-6.49 % (SW) and 1.14-5.77 % (HW), then cold-water solubles (CWS) were 1.61-6.39 % (SW) and 1.06-3.26 % (HW). The tendency from sapwood to heartwood showed an increasing levels in ETE and decreasing in HWS and CWS. The measurement in the cell wall components showed that the contents of lignin ranged from 27.39 – 33.29 % (SW) and 25,77-34,19 % (HW), holocellulose ranged from 70.50-73.73 % (SW) and 65.94-74.84% (HW), as α-cellulose were 45.83-49.62 % (SW) and 44.23-52.32 % (HW). From sapwood to heartwood, a slight difference in lignin and cellulose levels were found. The solubility in NaOH 1 % levels were 12.06-17.07% (SW) and 11.85-20.79 % (HW), ash contents were 0.72-3.64 % (SW) and 0.74-4.73 % (HW), whereas the pH values ranged from 5.56-8.02 (SW) and 7.09-7.96 (HW). With regard to colour properties, the brightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) indexes in the sapwood were 48-53, 6-11, and 9-20, respectively. In the heartwood, the values were 40-49, 9-16, dan 14-18, respectively.

Study of lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives in heartwood, sapwood and knots of 39 industrially important conifer species: 14 pines (Pinus), 7 spruces (Picea), 9 firs (Abies), 5 larches (Larix), 3 hemlocks (Tsuga) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga).

The wood samples were sequentially extracted, and the amount and composition of resin acids, fatty acids, sterols, steryl esters, acylglycerols, juvabiones, lignans, oligolignans, flavonoids and stilbenes were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry.

Περίληψη

Στην παρούσα εργασία γίνεται μελέτη και καταγραφή των πληροφοριών που αφορούν το ένυδρο και ανασκαφικό ξύλο. Καταγράφεται η ανατομία του και χρήσιμες πληροφορίες, με την βοήθεια των οποίων μπορούμε να κατανοήσουμε την υποβάθμιση του υλικού σε ένυδρο, ταφικό περιβάλλον. Δίνονται πληροφορίες για την αντιμετώπιση του υλικού μετά την ανασκαφή, για την συντήρηση και την αποκατάσταση του. Στο
τέλος καταγράφεται το σύνολο των διαγνωστικών τεχνικών που χρησιμοποιούμε στην επιστήμη συντήρησης αλλά και το χρονικό και όλες οι ιστορικές και επιστημονικές παρατηρήσεις που αφορούν το ναυάγιο του πλοίου Vasa στο λιμάνι της Στοκχόλμης.

Abstract

In this study we can record the information relating to hydrate and excavation wood. Record the anatomy and useful information about the wood, with the help of which we can understand the material degradation in aqueous, burial environment. Information is given to treat the material after excavation, for the maintenance and restoration. At the end we can study the diagnostic techniques used in conservation science and all the historical and scientific observations relating to the sinking of the Vasa ship in the harbor of Stockholm.

The objective of this research is to find out the extractive composition of mangium wood. A total of 25 mangium trees (24-years) from 5 provenances (Sidei Papua, West of Morehead, Daintree, Ellerbeck, Red Cardwell, and El Arish) were investigated. The extractive contents were determined by successive soxhlet extraction in two solvents (n-hexane and methanol). The results showed that the effect of provenance factor is not significant by analysis of variance. The range of n-hexane extracts were 1-6% which the highest value was obtained in the heartwood whereas methanol extracts ranged from 3-18% as the highest value was measured in the bark. In the n-hexane extracts based, neutral fractions dominated (80-95%) the composition the sapwood and heartwood. After saponification, the similar tendency was also observed which the unsaponifiables (60-80%) composed the most part in the neutral fraction of sapwood and heartwood. In the methanol extracts based, residue fractions (55-65%) composed the most part in the bark while dichloromethane fractions were comparatively high (30-41%) in the sapwood parts. In the heartwood, buthanol and residue fractions dominated (15-77%) in considerable varied patterns. Differences due to provenance factor was also observed, both in the n-hexane and methanol extract fractions.

Please, help me! I have a few questions about this Triptych:
1. Russian Byzantine Triptych or Greek/ Cyprus or other Slavic states of S-E of Europe?
2. Middle of the 18-th century?
3. what kind of wood? softwoods, but a more special one: larch, black pine
Few, but important questions. Please share with me your knowledge or suggestions!

Significant developments in the area of wood modification have been achieved during the last three decades. These developments can be attributed to increased environmental concerns, the escalating demand for a high and constant quality of wood products, and the rising prices of the durable tropical timber as well as its very limited availability, as affected by illegal logging. As a consequence, a number of wood modification techniques such as chemical and impregnation modifications or heat treatments have been introduced, and some of these technologies have reached the industrial level. This review paper deals with two successful technologies, that is, wood acetylation and wood furfurylation. It briefly discusses the advantages of the new modified products and presents in short their improved properties. Published findings indicate that chemical modification of wood, to a full or partial degree, by means of acetylation or furfurylation, offers a way to transform low durability wood species to new 'green' wood materials having advanced qualities and properties.

A nation – wide market survey study discovered that more than 47 timber species are being sold on Ghanaian market whose technological properties are not known. Therefore to ensure efficient utilization and promotion of these timber resources, their technological properties must be determined. Two species namely Cola gigantea and Ficus sur were selected to determine their technological properties. This study focused on the green and air – dried moisture contents, basic density, anatomical properties and the treatment characteristics of Cola gigantea and Ficus sur from Pra – Anum Forest Reserve in the Moist Semi Deciduous Forest Zone of Ghana. The green and air – dried moisture contents were determined using ASTM D4442 – 07; basic density of the species was done using the immersion method ASTM D2395 – 07a and the anatomical description using IAWA committee, 1989 protocols. The treatability studies were conducted using 0.5 % Copper Chrome Arsenate type C (CCA – C) preservative AWPA P5 – 08 and vacuum-pressure impregnation method by varying the pressure magnitudes (600 kPa to 1200 kPa) and treatment durations (30 to 240 minutes). The depth of penetration was done by AWPA A3 - 08, the assessment of permeability of the wood species by Fougerousse, 1976 method and
preservative oxide retentions by AWPA A9 - 01. The heartwood of C. gigantea has significantly higher green moisture than its sapwood at P<0.05. There was no significant difference in green moisture content between the sapwood and heartwood of F. sur at P≥0.05. Green moisture content varied along the bole of both species. Air – dried moisture content varied slightly within and between species but the differences were not significant. Mean basic densities were 479 kg/m3 for Cola gigantea and 386 kg/m3 for F. sur. The mean basic density values for sapwood of both species were significantly different at P< 0.05 from their respective heartwood.
The mean basic densities varied from the butt to the top portions of both species. The ground tissue proportions namely vessels: parenchyma: fibers were 8 %: 43 %: 49 % for C. gigantea and 9 %: 47 %: 44 % for F. sur. The fiber length, lumen diameter, and double wall thickness were 2.0
mm, 14.8 μm and 9.9 μm for C. gigantea and 1.5 mm, 23.9 μm 7.5 μm for F. sur. There was no significance between sapwood and heartwood volumetric retention of both species. F. sur significantly has higher volumetric retention than C. gigantea at P≤ 0.05. The ratio of mean
longitudinal to transverse penetrations was about 32 to 1 for C. gigantea sapwood and 39 to 1 for its heartwood and those of Ficus sur sapwood and its heartwood were 22 to 1 and 24 to 1 respectively. The ratio of longitudinal to transverse penetrations was 36 to 1 for Cola gigantea
and 23 to 1 for Ficus sur. The sapwood of F. sur and heartwood of both species were rated as moderately resistant when treated at 1200 kPa for 30 minutes or more whilst the sapwood of C. gigantea was rated as moderately resistant when treated at 1200 kPa for at least 60 minutes. The heartwood of both species is relatively more permeable than their respective sapwoods. For the same range of pressure magnitude and duration as well as 0.5 % CCA-C concentration used in this study, the mean oxide retention of Cola gigantea sapwood ranges were 1.41 to 2.21 kg/m3 and its heartwood were 1.39 to 2.29 kg/m3 and those of Ficus sur sapwood were 1.86 to 3.21 kg/m3 and 1.89 to 3.19 kg/m3 for its heartwood. Ficus sur can also be used as substitute for
Triplochiton scleroxylon (wawa), Pycnanthus angolensis (otie) and Antiaris toxicaria (kyenkyen). Both species are treatable and therefore can be impregnated with the adequate amount of preservative to prolong their service life.

The properties of eco-composite boards from agro-waste of oil palm empty fruit bunches were studied. The oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) obtained from a private oil palm plantation. By using fibre cutter and particle crusher, these EFB refined. Hardeners and wax added at 1% and 3% during the mixing process. Boards with densities of 500, 600 and 700 kg/m 3 produced using resin urea formaldehyde as the bonding agent at 10, 12 and 14%. The boards conditioned in a conditioning chamber set at 20±2 °C and 65% relative humidity before undergoing subsequent testing. The EN Standards specifications applied in the preparation of test samples and testing. Results showed the highest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) achieved in this study were 22.91 N/mm 2 and 2059.56 N/mm 2. The internal bonding was found to be at 0.98 N/mm 2 , and 467.47 N/mm 2 and 512.37 N/mm 2 respectively for the edge and face screw withdrawal. Boards with 700 kg/m 3 density and 14% resin content met the requirement of standard specifications. Scanning electron microscopy machine used to study the resin-fibre bonding property. Resin and fibre in the board inspected carefully, and voids appeared at the cross-section of the board with density 500 kg/m 3 at 10% resin suggesting moisture penetrated into the board via the open spaces and weakened the linkages existed, thus cause the board to have low properties. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates maximum rate of decomposition for the EFB boards occurred at 380.83 °C. This study shows that the board's density and resin content applied influence on the board's overall properties with boards produced at 700 kg/m 3 density with 14% resin content showed excellent overall properties with good dimensional stability.

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT The effect of heat treatment on tropical bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii on the physical, strength and durability were studied. Matured bamboo culms of 4-year-old culms were harvested and subjected to high-temperature condition using palm oil as a heating media. Two group of samples; green and air-dried were used in the studies. The temperature applied were 140C, 180C and 220C with an exposure duration of 30, 60 and 90 min respectively. The results show the heat treated bamboo retained most of their original physical and strength properties after undergoing the heat treatments process. Green or air-dried bamboo culms can be dried to an MC of 6-7% within 2 to 3 hours of treatment. The basic densities of bamboo were found to improve slightly by the heat application. The overall strength properties of the heat treated bamboo were found to decrease. The modulus of elasticity in bending strength was reduced between 2-33% in the green condition and between 6-9% in the air-dried condition. For the modulus of rupture in bending strength, the value was reduced between 1-23% in green condition and between 4-16% in air-dried condition. The compression strength was reduced in the range between 2-3% in green and 2-35% in air-dried conditions. The shear strength was reduced in the range between 16-24% in green and between 12 to 24% in air-dried conditions.

Novel composite materials having desired performance properties can be developed by nanotechnology. The major objective of this research was to produce nanomaterial-reinforced particleboard composites with enhanced physical and mechanical performance. Urea formaldehyde adhesive used to produce particleboard composites was reinforced with nanoSiO2, nanoAl2O3, and nanoZnO at loading level of 0%, 1%, and 3%. To evaluate physical properties density, thickness swelling, water absorption, and equilibrium moisture content were determined while modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, bonding strength, and screw withdrawal strength tests were carried out to evaluate mechanical properties of the particleboard composites. The results acquired in this work revealed that nanomaterial reinforcement technique significantly affected the physical and mechanical performance properties of the particleboard composites. The findings showed that the modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, bonding strength, and screw withdrawal resistance of the composites improved by all the nanomaterials used in this study, except 3% nanoZnO. It was also determined that using 1% nanoSiO2 or 1% nanoAl2O3 in the composites had the best results in the bonding strength and screw withdrawal resistance. The findings indicate that it is possible to produce novel wood composites by using proper nanomaterial type and loading level.

An increasing demand, the higher prices and scarcity of wood in the market may cause the craft industry to search other raw materials than wood. Bamboos must be the raw materials that can be used as building construction and handicrafts industry with abundant potency. Black petung bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper (Schult) Backer ex Heyne c.v. ‘black’ is one of bamboos, which is widely used to support the craft industry. This study aims to determine the quality of black petung bamboo propagated by culm and rhizome cuttings, based on chemical properties as fiber content, ash content and starch content and physical properties as moisture content, specific gravity and shrinkage ratio T/R. The qualities for chemical and physical properties of black petung bamboo indicated to be 60.85 ~ 67.13% in culm cutting propagation and 61.34 ~ 62.73% in rhizome cutting propagation by fiber content, 2.90 ~ 4.52 % in culm cutting propagation and 4.19 ~ 5.38 % in rhizome cutting propagation by ash content, 6.32 ~ 8.17% in culm cutting propagation and 7.62 ~ 8.11% in rhizome cutting propagation by starch content, 9.27 ~ 10.17% in culm cutting propagation and 9.84 ~ 10.38% in rhizome cutting propagation by moisture content, 0.508 ~ 0.607 in culm cutting propagation and 0.491 ~ 0.567 in rhizome cutting propagation by specific gravity, 0.289 ~ 0.903% in culm cutting propagation and 0.253 ~ 1.047% in rhizome cutting propagation by shrinkage ratio (T/R). Black petung bamboo propagated by culm cutting has a better quality than that by rhizome cutting, according to the test results for chemical and physical properties.