Muli (Melocanna baccifera) bamboo of 3-4 years old were collected from chittagong hill tracts, Chittagong. The bamboo were left for three months for drying and subsequent experimental works were done according to the following schedule.
Muli bamboo
Moisture content, Specific gravity and shrinkage were determined
Dried at room temperature
Dried bamboo
Cut into pieces and make split into 4 and 8 parts
Tied into bundles and weigh out
Bundles of the split bamboo
Dipped in to the 10% CCB preservative solution and treated for different time period
Treated wet materials
Materials kept for few hours to remove excess solution and weigh out
Treated materials
Materials kept for 2 weeks under shade
Treated materials put in to service test.
Preparation of solution : The materials were treated by 10% aqueous solution of CCB (copper-chrome-boron). The chemicals, copper sulphate, sodium dichromate and boric acid were all commercial grade (95% purity) collected and mixed locally to meet the standard individual salt component of w/w 40% sodium dichromate, 40% copper sulphate and 20% boric acid. The concentration of the solution was checked by hydrometer.
Treatment : The bundles of the split bamboo of three moisture contents were treated for differed soaking periods.
Split bamboo: ¼ split and 1/8 split
Moisture content: 15%, 25% and 40%
Soaking period: 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs, 96 hrs, 120 hrs.
Analysis : The retention of the preservative chemicals was calculated from initial and final weight of the split bamboo. The penetration of the chemicals was determined by chrome azurol solution following standard method (Anon 1991).