PENGARUH UMUR POHON, POSISI BATANG, TEBAL VENIR DAN KOMPOSISI PANEL INTI SAWIT TERHADAP PRODUKSI KAYU LAPIS MINDI

Abstract

This study examined the effect of tree age, trunk position, veneer thickness, and composition of panel core of oil palm wood on mindi plywood production. Oil palm logs of 1.3 m length were cut from two sources of trees with different ages, i.e. 25 and 32 years old. Four logs were collected from the bottom toward the top of each tree in which ten trees from respective age classes were selected randomly and cut into logs. Logs from each age class were peeled in spindleless rotary machine respectively into two thickness of veneer, i.e. 2.5 and 3.4 mm. Dried veneers (MC 10%) were assembled into two kinds of panel, i.e. 3 and 5 plies, where the face and back layer were made using 1.2 mm veneer of mindi (Melia azedarach) wood. Results showed that trunks from the 32 year old tree have higher green and dry veneer recoveries than those of the 25 year old tree. Moisture content and density of the 25 year old panels core are lower than those made from the 32 year old veneer. Bonding strength of panels made from the 32 year old core veneer is higher than that made from the 25 year old veneer. The 3 layer panels have higher bond strength than those of the 5 layer panel. Panels made from 2.5 mm core veneers have lower bonding strength than those made from 3.4 mm veneers