The aim of this study is to characterise the cultivated Calamus manan aged 10 and 13 years grown under rubber tree canopy and the properties of acetylated rattan. Each stem age was divided into five different portions of its total height namely basal, upper basal, middle, upper middle and top. The stem was transversely divided into periphery, inner and centre sections of its average diameter. Cross sections sized 30 mm by 10 mm by its thickness were prepared and were used for investigation of anatomical, physical, chemical, mechanical and decay resistance properties. The reactivity of acetic anhydride with different specimen sizes namely split rattan (30 mm by 10 mm by thickness); block rattan (20 mm by 20 mm by 5 mm) and strip rattan (100 mm by 10 mm by 5 mm) were conducted at 110 °C for the times ranging from 0.25 to 30 hours.
Characterisation of the properties found that only the basal portion of each age was classified as mature based on its mechanical properties. Other properties including anatomical, chemical, physical, and decay resistance can be used as indicators of maturity since these properties differed elsewhere along the stem.
The reactivity of rattan with acetic anhydride occurred earliest at the juvenile top of stem and proceeded more slowly moving downwards to the mature of basal portion for both ages. Transversely the reactivity was earliest at the peripheral and proceeded more slowly to the centre for the younger plantation rattan, and conversely for the older plantation rattan. This is due to variation of hemicellulose content. The reactivity was also higher in strip rattan than block rattan because of the difference in specific gravity.
The optimum dimensional stability in terms of ASwE, AShE, EMC_R and MEE were achieved at the levelling-off WPG. The lower EMC_R had a strong relationship with bulking coefficient. The MoE of acetylated rattan was not significantly different from the untreated rattan for both ages. The MoR of acetylated older plantation rattan was higher than untreated rattan, and this had a strong relationship with specific gravity following modification.
The decay protection against white rot T. versicolor and brown rot C. puteana were achieved at the levelling-off WPG for both ages. The improvement of decay resistance had a strong relationship with WPG. The decay resistance against soft rot and other soil inhabiting micro-organisms were achieved after low reaction periods (15 minutes). Following exposure, the MoR, MoE and maximum load at failure of acetylated rattan decayed by soft rot were much higher than for untreated rattan. Acetylated rattan at the levelling-off WPG was classified as durability class 1 according to EN 350-1.
Modification the structural organic chemical components through acetylation alters the cell wall chemistry and other physical properties of the juvenile rattan, thus improves its dimensional stability and decay resistance properties.