Characteristics of laminated compreg hybrid from oil palm trunk inner with sesenduk wood

The oil palm inner wood is dimensionally unstable, has poor machining characteristics, as well as low in strength and durability. The compression method is one of the potential methods for improving the physical and strength properties of wood. The study was conducted to determine effect of compression ratio (CR) and resin concentration (RC) on polymer loading. The primary study was to optimise the treatment variables for compregnation of oil palm inner wood based on its treatability and dimensional stability. The samples with nominal dimension of 200mm x 100mm x 20mm with 50-60% MC placed in impregnation apparatus were the initial vacuum was applied for 15 minutes, then filled with the LMW-PF solution and soaked under pressure of 689 kPa for 30 minutes followed by pre-curing in an oven at 70°C for 7 hours. The pre-cure samples being pressed at 150 °C for 45 minutes with 70%, 80% and 90% CR. The polymer loading and dimensional stability of the compreg oil palm inner wood for each treatment were determined. The effectiveness of the treatment was indicated by PR, WPG, and density. The samples treated with 20% RC and 70% CR had the highest PR, which was reported at 92.12%. 80% and 90% CR samples treated with 15% RC had 64.56 and 61.56% PR, respectively. For the first phase, the most optimum compregnation treatment variables was determined based on the performance of laminated compreg hybrid products. The oil palm inner wood (pre-cure) was laminated parallel with untreated or treated wood with the dimension of 200mm x 100mm x 5mm (sesenduk) to form three layer laminae. They were then hot pressed at 150°C for 60 minutes with 80% and 90% CR, and then conditioned at 25±2°C temperature and 65%±2 relative humidity until constant weight prior to determination of physical and mechanical properties. The deposition of resin polymer in compreg oil palm inner wood reduces the ability of the wood to absorb water because the cross-linking of PF polymers can prevent water molecules from penetrating the cell walls. As a results, laminated compreg hybrid products treated with 80% CR had WPG value of 63.21 to 99.53% (P1 and P2) and 63.09 to 105.52% (P3 and P4). Meanwhile, the highest MOR value of 40.67 N/mm2 is recorded in laminated compreg hybrid products treated with 80% CR and 20% RC, while the lowest MOR value is found in products made with 90% CR with 15% RC.

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