Physical and mechanical properties of low quality cultivated canes modified with vinyl thermoplastics.

Physical and mechanical properties of vinyl thermoplastic-modified Calamus manan aged 10 and 13 years grown under rubber tree canopy were investigated. Canes from diameters of 25-29mm, 35-39mm and 40-44 mm were selected and impregnated with polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) solution. Three different concentrations of 5%, 15% and 25% solutions were prepared by dilution process with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Impregnation by vacuum and pressure was applied. Modified canes with PS had greater polymer loading, thicker coat and higher water resistance but showed lower dimensional stability than those of PMMA. Canes modified with 25% concentration had greater coats, density, water resistance, dimensional stability but had lower water absorption and diameter swelling than those from lower concentrations. Mechanical properties of modified canes of either age or thermoplastic were improved over the untreated control, where the compression strength increased with increasing polymer concentration. Overall, all the mechanical properties of modified cane at 5% concentration were found to be higher than untreated cultivated canes and commercial canes of unknown age

Decay threshold of acetylated rattan (Calamus manan) against soft rot

We investigated the resistance of acetylated rattan against soft rot and other soil inhabiting micro-organisms in comparison with wood of beech and Scots pine. Calamus manan of 10 and 13 years old under rubber tree canopy was acetylated to different levels by reaction times (0.25 to 30 hours) and was tested for soft rot decay for 32 weeks. Acetylated rattan at decay protection thresholds of 15.4% and 16.2% weight gain (WG) were fully protected, as shown by both weight loss and strength loss criteria. The static bending properties of untreated rattan decayed by soft rot were significantly lower than for acetylated rattan

Effect of acetylation on the physical and static bending properties of cultivated Rotan Manau (Calamus manan) grown in Peninsular Malaysia

The physical and static bending properties of cultivated `rotan manau` (Calamus manan) reacted with acetic anhydride at 110 °C for the time intervals of 0.25 to 30 hours were investigated. The study aimed to investigate the effects of various reaction times on the physical and static bending properties. Rattans aged 10 and 13 years were obtained from local rubber tree plantations. This study found that almost all the physical properties of acetylated rattan were not significantly different by age (except specific gravity changes) and reaction periods (except weight gain and OH substitution). The static bending properties varied by rattan age, which the modulus of rupture (MoR), modulus of elasticity (MoE) and maximum load (ML), was not significantly different by reaction period for both ages, except for the MoR of the older acetylated rattan. The acetylation of rattan, performed at 110°C for prolong reaction period, did not impair the static bending properties

Classification of decay resistance against white and brown rot fungi within the cultivated Calamus manan stems

The decay resistance classes of cultivated Calamus manan aged 10 and 13 years old were investigated. One stem of each age was divided into five different portions namely basal (1.5 metre), upper basal (5.5 metre), middle (13.5 metre), upper middle (17.5 metre) and top (22.5 metre) portions above the ground. Cross-wise, the stem was cut into periphery, intermediate and centre sections. The specimen of size 30 mm × 10 mm × thickness (l × w × t) was oven-dried at 103oC for 24 hours and exposed to agar contained Coriolus versicolor (white rot, FPRL 28A), Pycnoporus sanguineus (White rot) and Coniophora puteana (brown rot, FPRL 11E) for 12 weeks according to ASTM D2017-81 (1986). The results showed that the decay resistance of C. manan varies with fungus, but not obviously different with the age and portion. The periphery section has the best resistance class compared to intermediate and centre sections. C. manan has a better resistant class against brown rot than those of white rot fungi

Equilibrium moisture content and moisture exclusion efficiency of acetylated rattan (Calamus manan)

The reduced equilibrium moisture content (EMCR) and moisture exclusion efficiency (MEE) of acetylated rattan was studied in relation with age and time of acetylation. Rattans aged 10 and 13 years grown under rubber trees were reacted with acetic anhydride for 0.25 to 30 hours. Results showed that the lowest EMCR and the highest MEE were obtained after 10 hours reaction or at the levelling-off per cent weight gain for both rattan ages. The EMCR values at the levelling-off per cent weight gain were lower in acetylated older rattan than the younger rattan. The low EMCR was highly correlated with the bulking coefficient

Biological of Malaysian canes modified with polymer.

The biological resistance against white and brown rot fungi of Calamus manan (manau) and C. ornatus (mantang) canes modified with polymer was investigated

Decay resistance of acetic, propionic and butyric anhydrides modified rubberwood against white rot (Trametes versicolor)

The effectiveness of rubberwood modified with acetic, propionic and butyric anhydrides against white rot Trametes versicolor was investigated. Specimens measuring 5 mm × 20 mm × 20 mm (l × w × t) underwent a Soxhlet extraction with toluene/methanol/acetone (4:1:1 by volume) for 8 h, and then oven-dried at 103 °C for 24 h. The specimens were vacuum-impregnated with anhydrides for durations ranging from 0.25 to 24 h at 120 °C. The weight percent gain (WPG) was calculated and the chemical bonding was analysed with Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR). The specimens were leached in deionised water according to EN 84 (1997) and exposed to white rot in an incubation room at 22 °C for 16 weeks. The study found that the acetic, propionic and butyric anhydrides reduced the rate of decay but did not totally protect rubberwood from T. versicolor. All the modified rubberwoods were classified as durability class 1 comparable to Scots pine and European beech. The final moisture content had a positive correlation with weight loss following decay. Scanning electron microscopy showed that hyphae penetrated cells in both untreated and modified rubberwood

The Decay Resistance and Hyphae Penetration of Bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii

The decay resistance and hyphae penetration of bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii decayed by white and brown rot fungi were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The bamboo grown in natural stand from three different age classes of 0.5, 3.5, and 6.5 years was harvested, oven dried, sterilised, and exposed to agar media containing 4% malt extract and 2% agar technical (no. 3) under laboratory condition for 8 weeks. The deterioration was expressed as percentage of weight loss, and the decay resistance classes were measured according to ASTM D 2017-81 (1986). This study found that the percentage weight loss was greatly reduced with the bamboo ageing. Regardless of age, the G. scortechinii was classified as highly resistant to decay by white and brown rot fungi. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that the fungi hyphae mostly penetrated into the vessel and proceeded to the pit and parenchyma cells

Decay resistance of acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydrides modified rubberwood against brown rot (Coniophora puteana)

Rubber trees were cut to the dimensions 25 mm x 140 mm x 1000 mm (R x T x L) and kiln-dried (10% to 12% moisture content, MC). The specimens (20 mm x 20 mm x 5 mm) (R x T x L) were prepared, and a Soxhlet extraction with toluene/methanol/acetone (4:1:1 by volume) was performed for 8 h. The specimens were oven-dried (103 °C for 24 h) and cooled (gel silica). Then, vacuum impregnation was conducted, and reactions with acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydrides took place for 0.25 h, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 10 h, 15 h, 24 h, 30 h, 36 h, and 48 h at 120 °C. The chemical bonding was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The specimens were leached in deionized water and exposed to brown rot (Coniophora puteana) in an incubation room at 22 °C for 16 weeks. The fastest reaction was with butyric anhydride, then propionic and acetic anhydrides. The lowest weight loss occurred with acetic anhydride after being decayed by C. puteana at 14.0% weight percent gain (WPG). All of the modified rubberwoods (acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydrides) at the maximum WPG were classified as durability class 1. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation confirmed that the hyphae penetrated the cells in both the untreated and anhydride modified rubberwood