WOOD RESEARCH Volume 66, Number 5, 2021
Sarah Augustina, Imam Wahyudi, Wayan Darmawan, Jamaludin Malik, Naoki Okano, Taiyo Okada, Kazushige Murayama, Hikaru Kobori, Yoichi Kojima, and Shigehiko Suzuki

Selected properties of compregnated wood using low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde and succinic anhydride

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of impregnating materials (low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde or LmwPF and succinic anhydride or SA), their concentrations (5 and 10%), and compression ratios (20 and 40% from initial thickness) on improvement of specific gravity (SG) and dimensional stability on nyatoh, sepetir, and pisang putih wood; and then compared them to control and densified wood. The results showed that SG and dimensional stability of compregnated wood were affected by all parameters studied. Higher compression ratio and concentration will result in a greater improvement. In general, SG and dimensional stability of compregnated wood were better than the control. SG of LmwPF- and SA-compregnated wood increased by 10.69‒22.31% and 6.96‒23.09%, respectively. Utilization of LmwPF and SA has significantly reduced the spring-back, but the latter is better. The compression-set recovery after compregnation was 18.34‒33.99%, while after densification was 47.86‒71.49%.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 64, Number 2, 2019
Zhou Qiaofang, Chen Chuanfu, Zhao Xiangyu, Tu Dengyun, and Li Kaifu

The effect of thermal modification by hot pressing on the some physical and mechanical properties in rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)

Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) was thermal modified by hot pressing in an open system at three different temperatures (170, 185, 200°C) and two different durations (1.5, 3 h), and the effect on the physical and mechanical properties was studied. Results show that the thermal modification increased the oven-dried density and decreased the EMC (equilibrium moisture content) by 7.93% and 37.15%, respectively, and the dimensions stability was improved. Hardness, bending strength, modulus of bending and compressive strength parallel to grain of modified samples basically decreased with increasing temperature and time, but they showed a meaningful increase compared to control samples. However, impacting bending and nail withdrawal resistance decreased after hot pressing and thermal treatment, and the failure of the compensation for the impairment was the rubberwood hot pressed and thermal treated in the presence of air, and the participation of oxygen provoked rapid degradation reactions during the treatment.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 66, Number 1, 2021
Zhipeng Zhu, Dengyun Tu, Ziwei Chen, Chuanfu Chen, and Qiangfang Zhou

Effect of hot pressing modification on surface properties of rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)

This research aims to investigate the effect of thermal modification by hot pressing on surface characteristics of rubberwood. For this purpose, rubberwood specimens were thermally modified by hot pressing in an open system at three different temperatures (170, 185, and 200°C) for two different durations (1.5 or 3 h). Based on the results, the values of chromatic aberration (ΔE), contact angle and glossiness increased, and roughness decreased with increasing temperature and enlarging duration further. Although the contact angle had increased, it was still less than 90°. This aesthetic surface of rubberwood could be retained by using transparent organic coatings. The thermally modified rubberwood with excellent performance could be used as a material for solid wood flooring, wallboard, and furniture applications.