Improvement of Fast-Growing Wood Species Characteristics by MEG and Nano SiO2 Impregnation

Abstract

Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) is a fast-growing wood species that is widely utilized for light construction and other purposes in Indonesia. The objectives of the current study were to determine the effects of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and SiO2 nanoparticles (nano SiO2) impregnation treatment on the dimensional stability and density of jabon wood and to identify the characteristics of impregnated jabon wood. Wood samples were immersed in water (as untreated), MEG, 0.5% MEGSiO2, then impregnated by applying 0.5 bar of vacuum for 60 min, and then applying 2.5 bar of pressure for 120 min. The results showed that impregnation with MEG and Nano SiO2 had a significant effect on the dimensional stability of jabon wood. Polymers can fill cell walls in wood indicated by increasing weight percentgain, antiswelling efficiency, bulking effect, and density, then decreasing in water uptake value. Jabon wood morphology by using SEM showed that MEGSiO2 polymers can cover part of the pitsin the wood vessel wall of jabon. This finding was reinforced by EDX results showing that the silicon content was increased due to the addition of SiO2 nano. The XRD diffraction pattern indicated that MEGSiO2 treatment increased the degree of crystallinity in wood samples. Overall, treatment with 0.5% MEGSiO2 led to the most improvement in the dimensional stability of 5-year-old jabon wood in this study.