Technique to remove bamboo covering developed

Ever heard of cutin?

It is the wavy substance found on the surface of bamboo branches and twigs. It inhibits the adhesion of finishing materials.

Those involved in the bamboocraft industry usually exert much effort in manually scraping the hard covering of bamboo branches.

But thanks to a scientific headway achieved by researcher Josefina G. Palisoc of the Los Baños-based -DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI), cutin can now be conveniently removed by applying a chemical called disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT).

Palisoc conducted a study on the chemical removal of cutin from twigs and branches of kauayan tinik (Bambusa bluemeana) by boiling in DOT and slake lime at 5, 10, and 15 percent concentrations for 30 and 60 minutes.

Treated samples were applied with nitrocellulose (NC) lacquer and painted to evaluate their finishing adhesion performance and hot-and-cold check resistance.

Results showed that kauayan tinik twigs and branches treated with 5 percent DOT and 5 percent slake lime at 30 minutes boiling exhibited high finishing adhesion when NC lacquer was applied with one coat of sanding sealer.

The hot-and-cold check test showed that NC lacquer and paint rated high in the three indices of finishing serviceability, appearance, integrity, and protection.

Using the five percent DOT and boiling for 30 minutes, the chemical removal of cutin cost less than manual scraping.

"DOT also offers other benefits," said Palisoc, as reported by FPRDI’s Rizalina Araral. "It whitens the surface of twigs and protects it from insects and fungi. It is also safe to use. After soaking, the solution can be left to evaporate without endangering workers’ health."

DPRDI director Dr. Florence Soriano also said: "Considering that the global trade in bamboo craft amounts to $8 billion a year, this new method in bamboo processing deserves a second look."– RAF