Razak Wahab

Effect of heat treatment using palm oil on properties and durability of Semantan bamboo

This paper investigates the effect of heat treatment on Semantan bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) with emphasis given to their properties and durability. Matured four-year-old bamboo culms were harvested and subjected to high temperature condition using palm oil as a heating media. Two groups of samples, green and air-dried, were used. The temperatures applied were 140°C, 180°C and 220°C, with exposure duration of 30, 60 and 90 min, respectively. The results of the investigations show that the heat-treated bamboos retained most of their original physical and strength properties after undergoing the heat treatment. Green or air-dried bamboo culms can be dried to an MC of 6-7% within 2-3 h of treatment. The basic densities of bamboo were found to improve slightly by the heat application. The overall strengths properties of the heat-treated bamboo were found to decrease. The modulus of elasticity in the bending strengths was reduced between 2 and 33% in the green- and 6-9% in the air-dried conditions. For the modulus of rupture in the bending strengths, the value was reduced between 1 and 23% in green- and 4-16% in air-dried conditions. The compression strengths were reduced in the range between 2 and 3% in green- and 2-35% in air-dried conditions. The shear strengths were reduced in the range between 16 and 24% and 12-24% in in green- and air-dried conditions, respectively.

Quality management of the bamboo resource and its contribution to environmental conservation in Malaysia

Purpose – The aim of this study was to contribute towards the systematic management of the natural stand bamboo resource at Nami, Kedah, Malaysia and to improve the forest environment rather than leaving it neglected and unmanaged. In addition, the study examines the commercial value of the abundant bamboo culms for a sustained industry in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approach – A one‐hectare experimental plot of Gigantochloa scortechinii (buluh semantan) was established with a split plot design of fertilizer treatments 0, 2 and 5 kg of NPK 15:15:15 and felling intensities of 0, 40, 60 and 80 percent. The experiment was conducted for four years. Parameters such as the number of shoots, culms and basal area were observed throughout the study.Findings – From this study significant results were obtained and management principles were formulated. Due to the effect of fertilizer application, there was an increment of 30 percent of shoots sprouted per clump per application. Thinning should be done selectively an...

Simulation of nano carbon tube (NCT) in thermal interface material for electronic packaging application by using CFD software

This paper presents the nanocarbon tube in thermal interface material for electronic packaging application by using three dimensional numerical analysis of heat and fluid flow in computer. 3D model of electronic packaging is built using GAMBIT and simulated using FLUENT software. The study was made for a microprocessors arranged in line under different types of inlet velocities and package (chip) powers. The results are presented in terms of average junction temperature when chip powers have been increased from 2 W to 5 W. The junction temperature is been observed and it was found that the junction temperature of the electronic packaging using nanocarbon was able to wind stand the increasing in chip power from 2 W until 5 W. It also found that the material selection play important roles to control and manage the junction temperature. The strength of CFD software in handling heat transfer problems is proved to be excellent.

Comparison between Thermal Interface Materials Made of Nano Carbon Tube (NCT) with Gad Pad 2500 in Term of Junction Temperature by Using CFD Software, FluentTM

This paper presents the comparison between thermal interface materials made of nano carbon tube (NCT) with Gad Pad 2500 in term of junction temperature by using CFD Software, FluentTM. 3D model of electronic packaging is built using GAMBIT and simulated using FLUENT software. The study was made for a microprocessors arranged in line under different types of inlet velocities and package (chip) powers. The results are presented in terms of average junction temperature when chip powers have been increased from 0.5 W to 2 W. The junction temperature is been observed and it was found that the junction temperature of the electronic packaging using nano carbon has lower junction temperature compare to the Gad Pad 2500. It also found that the NCT was able to reduce the junction temperature up to 20-30% compare to others thermal interface material.

Application of organic fertilisers on natural stand bamboos for sustainable management in Peninsular Malaysia

This paper highlights research on the influence of three organic fertilisers (chicken dung, palm oil mill effluent and peat materials specially made for fertilisers) on the number of new shoots, the diameter at breast height, the height of the culms and the number of culms. Especially the number of new shoots and the diameter at breast height are positively influenced, which is promising for commercial purposes.

Some properties of particleboard panels treated with extractives of Cerbera odollam tree

This study investigated certain aspects of physical and mechanical properties and resistance against biological deterioration of particleboard panels treated with extractives from different parts of Cerbera odollam trees. Particles of rubber-wood (Hevea brasiliensis) treated with extracts of leaf, fruit, wood, bark, flower, and seed of Cerbera odollam were used to manufacture panels in laboratory conditions. Two types of adhesive, namely melamine urea formaldehyde and phenol resorcinol formaldehyde were used as binder for the panels. Treated panels had higher resistance against powder post beetle in laboratory as well as field exposures. Both thickness swelling and internal bond strength values of treated samples satisfied requirements for P4 Type particleboards stated in European Standards (EN 312). It appears that such extractives possess potential to enhance resistance of particleboard against insect damage in tropical countries.

Basic density and strength properties of cultivated Calamus manan

This research investigates the basic density of Calamus manan cane grown in plantation and its relationship to strength. Cane samples were obtained from two plantation area in Malaysia. The results indicate that the lower part of the cane shows to have higher basic density compared to the higher part of the cane. The older canes (18 and 24 year-old) show a higher basic density compared to young canes (7 and 11 year-old). Samples with higher basic density show to have higher strength compared to those with lower basic density. Older canes indicate to have a 7-8-times higher strength compared to young canes.

Improvement in Durability of Oil Heat Treated 16-Year-Old Acacia mangium in Laboratory Tests

Improvement in the durability of oil heat treated Acacia mangium through accelerated laboratory tests was studied. A. mangium logs of 16-year-old harvested and segregated into the bottom, middle, and top portions. These were oil-heat treated in a stainless steel tank with oil palm oil as a heating medium at temperatures 180, 200 and 220 °C for the duration of 30, 60 and 90 minutes respectively. The wood samples dried and grounded into sawdust, air-dried again before undergoing durability tests. Accelerated 12 weeks laboratory durability studies conducted on the treated A. mangium. Fungi of Pycnoporus sanguineus , Gloeophyllum trabeum and Coriolus versicolors inoculated on the woods. Untreated samples used as controls. The results showed that durability of the wood improved with an increase in temperature and duration of the treatment. The oil heat treatment process reduced the attack of G. trabeum from 5.02%, 4.41% and 4.38% in the control samples to 0.54-4.55%, 0.91-4.41% and 1.08-4.38% at the bottom, middle and top portions, respectively. The attack of C. versicolors reduced from 11.48%, 14.27% and 15.68% in the control samples to 1.87-10.19%, 3.10-12.69 and 4.78-15.10% at the bottom, middle and top portions. However, the attacked of P. sanguineus were less effective with 31.42%, 18.24% and 10.53% in control samples to 3.71-10.18%, 5.74-14.59% and 4.37-17.08% at the bottom, middle and top portions. Heavy colonization of mycelia occurs in vessels of the untreated A. mangium wood in comparison to the oil heat treated wood observed through scanning electron microscope.

Thermal Degradation Analysis on 4-year-old Culms of Cultivated Tropical Bamboo Bambusa Vulgaris

The thermal degradation of matured 4-year-old culms of cultivated tropical bamboo Bambusa vulgaris was studied and analyzed . The analysis using the F ourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis revealed the presence of basic functional groups in the bamboo which consists mainly of ester, carbonyl, and hydroxyl groups. The chemicals present in the bamboo vary depending on the location of the samples taken from the bamboo culms. The moisture content and extractive were omitted in the kinetic study since they constituted less than 10% of the overall chemicals in bamboo and observed below 100℃. Low reactivity of lignin components and hemicellulose in bamboo occurred due to the peculiarities of the chemical structure and composition. The mechanism of the decomposition reactions taken as a three-step reaction which involved the activation energies and dynamics related to volatile fractions of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Activation energies of 46, 100, 105, 127, and 236 kJ/mol applied for all of the bamboos . The activation energy carried could provide better insight into the thermal decomposition process. It provides more information on critical energy needed to start a reaction. The decomposition activation energy range obtained could assist in understanding the thermal decomposition stability of the bamboo fibers and application in natural fiber reinforced polymer composite industry.

Antibacterial Activity of Different Biomass Components of Cerbera odollam and their Potential to Be Used as New Preservative for Wood Based Products

Cerbera odollam’s tree parts were extracted with methanol and further fractionated using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol, followed by antibacterial assay against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hexane soluble parts from flower, fruit, leaf, wood, bark and ethyl acetate soluble part from bark showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Hexane soluble parts from leaf and bark and ethyl acetate soluble parts from wood showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus licheniformis. All fractions appeared ineffective on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Screened extracts were analysed using FTIR. Experiments were continued with impregnation of methanolic extracts of Cerbera odollam into Melamine-urea formaldehyde (MUF) particleboards, Phenol-resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) particleboards and solid wood samples followed by exposure to wood-boring beetles and natural decaying.