Effect of Vapor-dam Treatment on the Air Circulating oven Drying Characteristics of Bamboo Tubes

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Vapor-dam treatment on drying drying rates, prevention of checks and V-shaped split during air circulating oven drying bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel et Z) tube. It was shown that the drying time from green to around 7~8 % of moisture content was required less as drying schedule was more severe, and distinctly dominated by the drying rate during the initial drying stage. Area shrinkages in cross section and thickness shrinkages measured during air circulating oven drying test were very large. Surface checks and V-shaped splits were occurred in untreated samples just after the beginning of drying, while sixty seven percentages of all the Vapor-dam treated samples could be produced without drying defects. The V-shaped splits occurred in the Vapor-dam treated samples were influenced more by the sealing of the vapor evaporation through the cross section than drying schedule.