Analysis on thermal degradation and chemical contents of bamboo gigantochloa brang.

The degradation and chemical contents of a tropical bamboo Gigantochloa brang were studied and
analyzed. The fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)
equipment were used in the analyzing. The studies revealed the presence of basic functional groups p in the
bamboo consisting mainly of ester, carbonyl and hydroxyl. The chemicals present vary in compositions
depending on the location and position on bamboo samples taken. The same set of activation energies (105,
127, 100, 236, and 46 kJ/mol, respectively) were applied to all of the bamboo samples. Low reactivity of lignin
components and hemicellulose occurred due to the peculiarities in the bamboo chemical
structure/composition. The extractive and the moisture content was not taken into consideration in the kinetic
study since they consists of less than 10%. The mechanism of the decomposition reactions were taken as
three-step reactions involving hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin with activation energies and dynamics of the
related volatile fractions. The activation energy carried out in this study provides better insight into the
thermal decomposition process as it provide more information on critical energy needed to start a reaction.
The decomposition activation energy range obtained in this study could help in understanding the thermal
decomposition stability of bamboo fibers and its application in natural fiber reinforced polymer composite
industry. The activation energy can be useful in evaluating other parameters of thermal kinetics