Mechanical properties assessment of laminated veneer lumber from teak plantation in Laos

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the most influenced levels of pressure and length of time on modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of teak laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Teak LVL was taken from the Faculty of Forestry’s forest plantation in Vientiane, Laos. The peeled veneer’s thickness was 2.3 mm. The veneer was air-dried until the moisture content reached the range of 6 to 10 %. Teak LVL panels were assembled from 9-ply panels of veneer using PL116-Liquid phenol-formaldehyde resin adhesive. The temperature was at 120 °C at 3 different pressure levels i.e., 1.5, 2 and 2.5 MPa and levels of time i.e. 9, 11 and 13 min. The experiment was conducted based on ISO16978. Intron Machine Model 5569 was used for the bending test of LVL with a dimension of 20×20×360 mm3. The bending test results on teak LVL showed significantly different MOR and MOE based on length of time and pressure levels of pressing.