Surface Discoloration of Ultraviolet (UV)-Irradiated Phyllostachys bambusoides Bamboo

Abstract

Color is an attribute of visual perception and can be an important factor that affects the preference of customers toward bamboo and wood products. Solar radiation can discolor bamboo surfaces and initiate cracking. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an ultraviolet (UV)-protective coating on the photodiscoloration of untreated and heat-treated Phyllostachys bambusoides bamboo surfaces. Artificial UVA radiators are set at a UVA irradiance of 2,000 W/m2 to accelerate the aging of the outer surfaces of hot-air-dried and heat-treated bamboo samples. Half of the samples are coated with transparent UV-protective paint. As the UVA radiation progresses, the discoloration prevention efficiency (DPE) of the UV-protective coating on all samples decreases gradually. The DPEs of the hot-air-dried samples are estimated to be 31.4% and 18.8% after 21 and 72 hours of artificial UVA radiation, respectively. The heat-treated samples exhibit similar trends (29.0% after 21 hours and 10.3% after 72 hours). Recoating the UV-protective paint periodically every six months is expected to minimize the discoloration of the bamboo’s outer surface.