Characterization and anatomical properties of Schizostachyum Brachycladum Kurz and Bambusa Vulgaris Schrad. grown in Kelantan, Malaysia

The physical-mechanical properties, chemical composition, and anatomical structure on Bambusa vulgaris schrad and Schizostachyum brachycladum kurz were investigated. The samples were classified into two different age groups which were young (1 year) and matured (3-4 years). Each bamboo was divided into three portions which were the bottom, middle and top. This study was aimed to characterize the physical properties which are the value of moisture content, density, basic density, thickness swelling, water absorption, and the flexural strength test for mechanical properties. The chemical compositions of these species such as the percentage of extractive, holocellulose, alpha cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content were evaluated. Then, the samples were tested under the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect and quantify the changes of chemical composition of bamboo under the different variables which were extractive, free extractive and natural bamboo fibre. Furthermore, the selected bamboo species were scanned in which their cell wall structure were scrutinised under the Light Microscopy (LM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The methods used to identify the physical-mechanical properties and to extract all chemical compositions which followed the International Organization for Standard (ISO) and Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) standard, respectively. From the physical properties, it highlighted that the higher moisture content was indicated on the top of young Bambusa vulgaris schrad which is 68 %. Thus, the top of matured Schizostachyum brachycladum kurz showed the higher value in density and the basic density which were 1084 kg/m3 and 876 kg/m3, respectively. Besides, the water absorption and thickness swelling was shown higher in the Schizostachyum brachycladum kurz species which were 26 % and 5 %, respectively. Nonetheless, mechanical properties showed the higher value of modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) under flexural test which was indicated on the top of matured Schizostachyum brachycladum kurz with 346 mPa and 94427 mPa, respectively. Moreover, the chemical composition showed that the extractive, holocellulose and lignin content were higher on Bambusa vulgaris schrad species with 7 %, 95 % and 26 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the hemicellulose and alpha cellulose were higher in Schizostachyum brachycladum kurz species with 51 % and 64 %, respectively. Nevertheless, the surface of bamboo was examined under LM, SEM and TEM to determine their structure such as vascular bundle, parenchyma, sclerenchyma and the layers of a cell wall.