Quality enhancement of falcataria-wood through impregnation

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine the efficiency of impregnation usingphenol formaldehyde resin to enhance Falcataria wood’s stability and better mechanical properties. Impregnation process was carried out after moisture content stabilized at 12% on samples with a dimension of 20 mm × 20 mm × 300 mm at various concentrations and pressure time. Dimensional stability was evaluated by thickness swelling (TS) and anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) and the young’s modulus was conducted according to BS 573. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of impregnated wood were evaluated. Dimensional stability and mechanical properties of Falcataria wood were successfully increased after impregnation. PF impregnation can improve the mechanical properties and the density from 0.26 g/cm3 to 0.30 g/cm3 even with only 10% of weight percent grain. Dimensional stability increases with increasing resin concentration and time pressure. The highest increase in mechanical properties was found at a higher concentration of PF. The penetration of PF into the wood’s cell darkens the color of impregnated wood.