Physical Properties and Dimentional Stabilization ofSeveral Commercial Bamboo Species

This experiment aims to look into appropriate formulate 1vhich may improve pbysica! properties and dimentional stability of bamboos to optimize their uses as construction materials. Results revealed that length of culm (stem), number of internodes, and internode length varied in accord with different bamboo species. Moisture content of bamboo varied depending on species, i.e.bija« orater(236.15%), mayan (181.52%), tali (117.32%), andhitam (111.83%). Likewise, bamboo density also varied, i.e. tali (0.93), andong (0.88), mayan (0.83), hijau or ater (0. 79), hitam (0.78), and betung (0. 78). The density of bamboo decreases in cross-section moving from the periphery, middle to inner part. Volumetric shrinkage uarieds according to bamboo species, i.e. mayan (9.04%), betung (15.75%), andong(16.32%), and ater (38,45%). The highest ASE percentage (95.57%) occured at ater (LO), 1vhile the lowest (-144.92%) u/as of mayan (SC a). Bamboo that afford responses to ASE percentage value was arrangedfrom the highest, i.e. LO, PEG, SPo, B, A, C. The LO agent iuas absorbed the least l?J all bamboo species,foll01ved in increasing order l?J PEG with the expection of hitam bamboo. Bamboo that absorbed the suell-resisting order l?J PEG 1vith the least was the andong (14.22%) with LO, and the greatest inflicted l?J hitam (13 7.54%) untb PEG. Almost all bamboo species uere able to absorb the entire s1vell-resisting agents in largeamount. The retention of agentsin dry bamboo was arranged in orderfrom the highest to the lowest, i.e. PEG, LO, SCa, and SPo. The highest to the lowest retentions n/ere of consecutive!J hitam, ater, tutu~ andong, mayan, and betung.