Influence of heat treatment on durability and mechanical properties of bamboo

Abstract

This article presents the verification of the influence of temperature variation and heat treatment time on the mechanical properties of solid bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) and the action of insects on its durability. The specimens were subjected to temperatures of 160 ºC, 180 ºC and 200 ºC, for 1 hour, 1h30 hours and 2 hours, in a conventional oven. Subsequently, the mechanical resistance to traction and compression and the moisture content of the samples were determined. The test for biological attacks on bamboo was carried out by exposing the samples to the bamboo weevil (Dinoderus minutus) for 21 days. The effects of heat treatment were studied in 3 temperature ranges and 3 exposure durations, obtaining, on average, compressive rupture, and tensile stresses parallel to the fibers, equal to 68.83 MPa and 123.53, respectively. The data obtained demonstrated that the temperature and duration ranges adopted in this research did not alter the results of the mechanical properties and in the biological attack tests it was found that the heat treatment reduced the deterioration of the samples, prolonging their durability.