Property characterization of Chusquea culeou, a bamboo growing in Chile

Hernán Poblete,Héctor Cuevas,Juan E Diaz-Vaz

doi:10.4067/s0718-221x2009000200004

Abstract

Property characterization of Chusquea culeou Desv. (colihue), a bamboo growing in Chile, was conducted. Physical, chemical and mechanical properties were determined as a function of plant diameter, position in culm length and nodal or internodal sections. The results show that fi bre length increased from the base to the top of the culms. Differences in the fi bre length between nodes and internodes were observed. In the internodes higher moisture content, lower specifi c gravity and lower extractive content were also found. Extracts and ash content in the samples tested were higher than those determined for commercial Chilean woods. Hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin proportion indicate that the colihue could be used as raw material for pulp and paper production. The measured mechanical properties (bending strength, compression, hardness, shear strength) are higher than those of poplar wood but lower than radiata pine growing in Chile.

Highlights

Colihue (Chusquea culeou Desv.) is one of the eleven bamboo species of the Chusquea genus growing in Chile
ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES The bamboo culms are usually formed with about 50% of parenchyma cells, 40% fibres and 10% to vessels and sieve tubes
The physical, chemical and properties were measured on Chusquea culeou culms, classified in two diameter classes

Summary

Introduction

Colihue (Chusquea culeou Desv.) is one of the eleven bamboo species of the Chusquea genus growing in Chile. It has a high growing rate and biomass production (Veblen et al 1979). Campos et al (2003) did an estimate about the forest land of 180.000 ha in which Chusquea culeou was growing with a productivity of 10 t/ha/year or 12 m3/ha/year. Based on the work of Veblen et al (1979) and Rijo et al (1987), this study aims to investigate the properties and variation of colihue wood. The physical and mechanical properties, anatomical structure, fibre length and chemical composition will be measured in this work

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Conclusion