Guadua angustifolia-Kunth is a forest resource with special physical and mechanical characteristics, which is used mainly in houses building, laminates manufacture, and decorative items. Also it plays an important role in watershed protection, in the CO2 capture and soil conservation. The thermal and mechanical characterization of this type of biological materials is very important for optimizing the industrial transformation processes and improving the final product quality. In this work, thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity and Brinell hardness (DB) of bottom, middle and top culm areas along the Guadua were considered. These thermo-physical parameters were measured using photoacoustic technique, while DB values were calculated according to the international standards. Results show that heat transport and surface deformation magnitudes are homogeneous along this bamboo. It was found that this behavior is highly correlated with the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the plant, which were determined through photo-micrographs.
Guadua angustifolia - Kunth; thermal diffusivity; thermal effusivity; Brinell hardness
