Wettability of three Honduran bamboo species

This study was initiated to determine the wettability of three Honduran bamboo species by contact-angle measurements. Static contact angles of urea formaldehyde (UF), phenol formaldehyde (PF), isocyanate (ISO) and distilled water on the bamboo surfaces were measured. The effects of bamboo species, layer (outer, middle and inner) and chemical treatment (hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and distilled water) on the contact angle of bamboo surfaces were examined. The results showed that bamboo species had a significant effect on contact-angle values. Regarding the four adhesives, the contact angle of UF was significantly higher. The adhesives displayed the following mean contact-angle pattern: UF > PF > ISO > distilled water. The effect of the bamboo layer was also significant. The outer layer had the highest contact angle, followed by the inner layer and then the middle layer. With regards to the three chemical treatments, NaOH had the highest total mean contact-angle value.