Effects of Diffusion Process and Compression on Polymer Loading of Laminated Compreg Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Wood and Its Relation to Properties

摘要

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of diffusion process and compression on polymer loading of laminated compreg oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) wood which had been treated with low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde (LmwPF) and to find out its relation to the properties of the product. Oil palm wood (OPW) strips with 80-100% MC were soaked in 30% LmwPF for 24 hours. The treated strips were wrapped in plastics and left for diffusion for 2, 4, or 6 days, followed by pre-curing them in an oven at 65 C for 6 hours. The pre-cured strips were assembled parallel to each other to form three-layer laminated compreg OPW, followed by compressing them under a hot press to the compression ratios of 55%, 70% and 80%. Laminated untreated OPW bonded with commercial PF resin served as control. The study showed that polymer loading of the compreg was only affected by diffusion time. It was also found that density, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) and mechanical properties of laminated compreg OPW were correlated with polymer loading, whilst water absorption and thickness swelling were inversely correlated with polymer loading. Compared to the laminated untreated OPW, the compreg product had superior properties. Meanwhile, formaldehyde emission of the laminated compreg was relatively higher compared to the global threshold limit.