The effect of heat treatment on tropical bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii on the physical, strength and durability were studied. Matured bamboo culms of 4-year-old culms were harvested and subjected to high-temperature condition using palm oil as a heating media. Two group of samples; green and air-dried were used in the studies. The temperature applied were 140C, 180C and 220C with an exposure duration of 30, 60 and 90 min respectively. The results show the heat treated bamboo retained most of their original physical and strength properties after undergoing the heat treatments process. Green or air-dried bamboo culms can be dried to an MC of 6-7% within 2 to 3 hours of treatment. The basic densities of bamboo were found to improve slightly by the heat application. The overall strength properties of the heat treated bamboo were found to decrease. The modulus of elasticity in bending strength was reduced between 2-33% in the green condition and between 6-9% in the air-dried condition. For the modulus of rupture in bending strength, the value was reduced between 1-23% in green condition and between 4-16% in air-dried condition. The compression strength was reduced in the range between 2-3% in green and 2-35% in air-dried conditions. The shear strength was reduced in the range between 16-24% in green and between 12 to 24% in air-dried conditions.
