Abstract

This study evaluates some physical properties of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris). Five mature Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) with equal height and internodes numbers were harvested at a height of 30cm above the ground level from a bamboo grove naturally growing stand at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Bamboo culms were marked at each internode using permanent marker from the base to the top to allow for easy identification and re-arrangement of the culm. The bamboo strips obtained were further converted to test samples. From each internode, 5 test samples were obtained, the total number of test samples converted was 625 samples. The test samples with dimensions 20mm (tangentially) x 60mm (longitudinally) x 5mm (radially) were oven dried at 105± 2°C until constant weight is achieved to determine the dry weight before acetylation. The experimental design is a 2 × 25 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three samples replication per test. The results shows that mean weight percent gain (WPG) for all the acetylated samples ranged from 11.41% to 16.88% across the culm heights, significant difference was observed in the bulking coefficient with a mean values between 3.21% to 4.75% along the culm height. Also the mean value of moisture content obtained for the acetylated bamboo samples ranged 23.67 to 30.27%. The mean value of specific gravity obtained for the acetylated bamboo samples ranged 1.0475 to 1.1117. Water absorption, swelling coefficient and anti-swelling efficiency were all significant except the dimensional stability efficiency. Based on this study, the dimensional stability and hydrophobicity of bamboo have significantly improved, which increases its suitability for structural use.