SIFAT FISIS DAN MEKANIS EMPAT JENIS KAYU ANDALAN ASAL SUMATERA UTARA

Abstract

This paper presents scientific information about physical and mechanical properties of four endemic wood species originated from North Sumatra. They consist of salagundi (Rhoudolia teysmanii), raru (Cotylelobium melanoxylon), mobe (Arthocarpus dadah) and medang landit (Persea rimosa). The properties which were examined covered wood density, moisture content, linear shrinkage (longitudinal, radial, and tangential directions), volumetric shrinkage, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), compression strength and tensile strength. The experiment was carried out at Laboratory of Forest Product Processing and Utilization in the Research and Development Institute for Forestry (North Sumatra). The samples of wood materials were collected from Simalungun and Central Tapanuli, which lasted from June until December 2005. The results revealed that there were significant variations in the wood properties among those four endemic species, including the specific gravity, as follows: 0.44-0.54 (for medang landit), 0.55-0.69 (mobe), 0.80-0.86 (salagundi) and 1.02-1.09 (raru). The specific gravity of wood was linearly and positively correlated with particular mechanical properties, e.g. MOR and MOE.