Effects of Boric Acid Pretreatment on the Properties of Four Selected Malaysian Bamboo Strips

Bamboo requires treatment to extend its service life. However, as bamboo strips could serve as a suitable candidate for lamination, the treatment may affect its bendability. The current study investigated the effects of boric acid treatment on the physical, mechanical, adhesion, and morphological pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Norwahyuni Mohd Yusof, Lee Seng Hua, Paridah Md Tahir, Redzuan Mohammad Suffian James, Syeed Saifulazry Osman Al-Edrus, Rasdianah Dahali, Adlin Sabrina Muhammad Roseley, Widya Fatriasari, Lubos Kristak, Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis, Roman Reh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Forests
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/2/196
Description
Summary:Bamboo requires treatment to extend its service life. However, as bamboo strips could serve as a suitable candidate for lamination, the treatment may affect its bendability. The current study investigated the effects of boric acid treatment on the physical, mechanical, adhesion, and morphological properties of bamboo strips. Owing to their availability and popularity in local industries, four Malaysian bamboo species were used in this study, namely <i>Gigantochloa scortechinii</i>, <i>Gigantochloa levis</i>, <i>Dendrocalamus asper</i>, and <i>Bambusa vulgaris</i>. These four species’ bamboo strips were treated with 5% boric acid and their properties were evaluated. The findings revealed that the boric acid treatment had varying degrees of effect on the properties of the bamboo. Despite having lower treatability and stability, both <i>G. scortechinii</i> and <i>G. levis</i> have greatly superior mechanical properties that justify their use in the production of laminated products. The boric acid treatment was found to provide several benefits to bamboo strips intended for lamination, including increased wettability, dimensional stability, and mechanical strength.
ISSN:1999-4907