Abstract
This study was carried out to develope a new process of flattening bamboo pieces(3 months old) by two steps of utilizing microwave oven and hot press. Internode bamboo pieces were impregnated with low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) under vacuum of 76 cmHg, heated in a household microwave oven in 1 minute, pressed on the temperature of $145^{\circ}C$ by the hot press for 10 minute, and then cooled by the cold press in their flattened form. The physical and mechanical . Properties of compressed flattened bamboo were as follows: 1) PF1(Mw:427) and PF2(Mw:246) sol. met the success of flattening of internode bamboo pieces in both of P. bambusoides and P. nigra var. PF2 showed the more plasticity to flatten the bamboo than PFI. The PF2 sol. with low molecular weight(Mw:246) gave the more weight gain than that of PF1 in the equal concentration. PF1 of 5% (NVC) and PF2 of 10% (NVC) sol. gave the best result for physical and mechanical properties and from a economical view point. 2) The PFI of 5% (NVC) sol. with low molecular weight decreased the water absorption of 62-63% and increased the bending strength (MaR) of 80-90%, compression strength of 43-54%. 3) The PF2 of 10% (NVC) sol. with low molecular weight decreased the water absorption of 56-57% and increased the bending strength (MaR) of 64-86%, compression strength of 39-63%.