Bamboo modification with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) catalyzed by maleic anhydride

Low-molecular-weight 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) was used to modify bamboo strips catalyzed by maleic anhydride. In this study, response surface meth-odology (RSM) was applied to optimize the treatment conditions for DMDHEU modification of bamboo. Three selected parameters, DMDHEU concentration, curing temperature, and curing time, were further optimized using response surface methodology via the box behnken design (BBD). The equilibrium moisture content (EMC), water absorption (WA), anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), mechanical properties, and mold resistances to (Aspergillus niger V. Tiegh, Penicillium citrinum Thom, Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fr, and Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat.) were evaluated as the dependent variables.