Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties of Silafluofen-treated Tropical Wood Using Multi-Phase Carbon Dioxide Impregnation

Musrizal Muin

doi:10.51850/wrj.2011.2.1.42-45

Abstract

A new approach in wood preservative treatment using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a carrier solvent has been developed and evaluated its effect on the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of treated tropical wood. It employs CO2 at various combinations of temperatures and pressures in a treatment vessel at once and is called Multi-Phase Carbon Dioxide (MPCO2) treatment. Three commercial tropical wood species (Agathis sp., Palaquium sp., and Heritiera sp.) measuring 1.5 cm (T) x 1.5 cm (R) x 15 cm (L) were prepared for the treatment with a termiticide (silafluofen). A treatment cycle was performed by loading two specimens of each wood species, applying the temperature of 15⁰C and pressure of 60 kg/cm2, gradually increasing the temperature and pressure, respectively, to 35⁰C and 80 kg/cm2, and releasing the pressure to atmosphere. The treatment was conducted with five replicates. Untreated and treated specimens were then evaluated their physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Results show that the MPCO2treatment significantly enhanced the termite resistance of treated wood without any adverse effects on their physical and mechanical properties.A new approach in wood preservative treatment using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a carrier solvent has been developed and evaluated its effect on the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of treated tropical wood. It employs CO2 at various combinations of temperatures and pressures in a treatment vessel at once and is called Multi-Phase Carbon Dioxide (MPCO2) treatment. Three commercial tropical wood species (Agathis sp., Palaquium sp., and Heritiera sp.) measuring 1.5 cm (T) x 1.5 cm (R) x 15 cm (L) were prepared for the treatment with a termiticide (silafluofen). A treatment cycle was performed by loading two specimens of each wood species, applying the temperature of 15⁰C and pressure of 60 kg/cm2, gradually increasing the temperature and pressure, respectively, to 35⁰C and 80 kg/cm2, and releasing the pressure to atmosphere. The treatment was conducted with five replicates. Untreated and treated specimens were then evaluated their physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Results show that the MPCO2 treatment significantly enhanced the termite resistance of treated wood without any adverse effects on their physical and mechanical properties.

Highlights

Since the availability of naturally resistant wood species is becoming very limited, wood preservation technology plays an important role in ensuring a longer service life for the forest product
The treatment at lower temperatures and pressures are thought to be practical and economically beneficial. This current study was aimed at evaluating physical, mechanical and biological properties of some tropical wood species treated with Silafluofen using carbon dioxide impregnation with a new approach
Sample Preparation Specimens of three tropical timber species (Agathis sp., Palaquium sp., and Heritiera sp.) measuring 15 (R) × 15(T) × 150 (L) mm were used for treatment trials

Summary

Introduction

Since the availability of naturally resistant wood species is becoming very limited, wood preservation technology plays an important role in ensuring a longer service life for the forest product. In Indonesia, there are about 85.7% of 4000s identified wood species belonging to the low durability category (Martawijaya 1996) This condition indicates that without preserving technology, such wood species will be attacked by organisms in their uses and cause significant economic losses. Current commercial wood preserving technologies, especially pressure methods are proved to be effective in enhancing the service life of treated wood These treatment methods definitely contribute to the protection of wood products, they have some unfavorable side effects such as the need of re-drying process after treatment, causing negative impact to the physical and mechanical properties of the treated wood. The treatment at lower temperatures and pressures are thought to be practical and economically beneficial This current study was aimed at evaluating physical, mechanical and biological properties of some tropical wood species treated with Silafluofen using carbon dioxide impregnation with a new approach

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions