Improving the Processing Technique of Pandanus Leaves(Part I): Coloring and Drying

Pandanus leaves signify one of the non-wood forest products commodities which are potential and beneficial for handicraftmanufacture. In the beginning,pandanus leaves were on fy manufacturedinto the so-calledfelted mats. A biding by the market demandand with the time advancing,pandanus leaves can now be handcrafttedinto various shapes and types of produas such as bags, slipperis, dispatching boxes.file boxes, hats, etc. Inpandanus-leaf handcrafting, theproblem as cotlylnonfy encountered is in the coloring and dryingprocess.The improperprocess can loner the qualitiesof pandamls leaf based bandicraf tproducts in that thry are by groscopicand uneven in coloring. This research was carried out to improve quality of pandanus leaves as handicraft material through drying and coloring. Results revealed that in chemical composition the leaves contained moisture of 7-9%; lignin and boloceiuiasa of 18-22% and 83-88%.The leaves exhibited tensile strenght of 2-6 kg and resistance against sun rtly scales 2-3.Coloring matter with base cornpound brought out the most satisfactory color with the brightestintensity on the pandanus leaves. The fresh pandanus leaves treated with base coloringmatters and drying in oven at 70 °C qfforded the best results compared with those of other treatments.