EFFECTS OF DRICON TREATMENT ON SURFACE PROPERTIES AND FIRE RESISTANCE OF TAIWAN AND CHINA MOSO BAMBOO (<em>PHYLLOSTACHYS</em> <em>PUBESCENS</em>)

Abstract

This study examined the effects of Dricon fire-retardant treatment on surface properties and fire resistance of Taiwan and China moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens). Experimental results obtained by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that the surface chemical properties for both inside and outside of untreated Taiwan and China moso bamboo were similar. After Dricon fire-retardant treatment, the hydroxyl groups on cellulose could react with cyanoguanidine, producing carbonylamide group, especially in China moso bamboo. However, different effects of Dricon fire retardant on China and Taiwan moso bamboo were observed due to their different material properties, and accordingly their colours after treatment also varied. Moreover, the gloss in all bamboo specimens decreased after treatment with Dricon. Owing to chemical modification by fire-retardant treatment, the contact angle with water decreased markedly, indicating that Dricon-treated moso bamboo had better wettability and could be processed with subsequent water-soluble reagents. Results obtained in this study also demonstrated that Dricon-treated moso bamboo had better combustion properties, which in turn enhanced its fire resistance.