EFFECT OF THERMAL TREATMENT ON THE WETTABILITY OF GIANT BAMBOO (DENDROCALAMUS ASPER) AND KAWAYAN TINIK (BAMBUSA BLUMEANA) IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The study was conducted to compare the wettability of Dendrocalamus asper and Bambusa blumeana and to determine thermal treatment effect on the surface property of bamboo. Mature bamboo poles (3 samples per species) were collected from Barangay Masapang, Victoria, Laguna, Philippines. The culms were divided into three height segments representing the bottom, middle and top portions and prepared for the wettability test on the outside layer (towards the skin) and inner surface. The samples for wettability and physical property determination were collected from the middle internode in each portion. Wettability property was determined by the Cosine-Contact Angle (CCA) measurement. ANOVA showed significant differences between species, layers, treated and untreated bamboo and height. The top portion of D. asper and the middle portion of B. blumeana had the highest measured contact angles, which were found in the outside layer for both bamboos. Thermal treatment changed the color of both bamboos, decreased their density, and significantly improved the wettability property. The results showed that the D. asper contact angle was significantly lower at different height levels and layers than B. blumeana for both untreated and thermally-treated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]