The Effect of Softening and Drying Process on Rattan Color

Calamus yunnanensis, Cnambaruensis and Plectocomia himalayana were softened by microwave and steaming heating, using traditional oven and microwave heating to dry the rattan. The changes of color parameters were determined, and the effect of the softening and drying process on the rattan color was evaluated. The results showed that the brightness(L*) and saturation (C*) of softening rattan samples decreased, hue angle (ΔAg*) was minus, chromatic aberration (ΔE*) was in the range of 18-30. The effect of steam softening method on L* and ΔE* was more obviously than microwave. The L* gradually increased in the process of drying, but the effect of drying process on L* was lower than that of softening process. The C* of 3 dried samples increased and Ag* changed, the rattan color appeared slight red and blue. ΔE* gradually decreased as drying time increasing in the same medium temperature. ΔE* of rattan samples drying by higher medium temperature were more obvious than that with lower medium temperature. ΔE* of 3 rattan samples after drying was smaller than that before and after softening, The drying process contributed to rattan color difference reducing, and microwave drying process was more significant.