Physical Properties of Impregnated Ganitri Wood by Furfuryl Alcohol and Nano-SiO2

Abstract

Ganitri wood (Elaeocarpus sphaericus) is a fast-growing wood that has low dimensional stability and density. This study aims were to analyze the effect of Furfuryl Alcohol (FA) and nano-SiO2 impregnation on the dimensional stability and density of ganitri wood and also examine the characteristics of impregnated ganitri wood. Impregnation used three treatments, including untreated (water), FA, and 0.5% FA-SiO2. The impregnation process was initiated by giving a 0.5 bar vacuum for 60 minutes, followed by applying a pressure of 2.5 bar for 120 minutes. Weight percent gain, leachability, anti-swelling efficiency, water uptake, bulking effect, and density were affected by the treatment. It was due to the coverage of FA and nano-SiO2 on vessels of ganitri wood (SEM analysis). Also, the presence of nano-SiO2 in wood treated (SEM-EDX analysis). FT-IR showed there were no FA bonds with ganitri wood cell wall components or between Nano- SiO2 and ganitri wood. The crystallinity of ganitri wood decreases because FA is amorphous and nano-SiO2 is semi-crystalline. The optimum dimensional stability and density were obtained at FA treatment.