Physical properties of impregnated sengon wood by monoethylen glycol and nano silica from betung bamboo sticks

Abstract

Sengon wood (Falcataria moluccana) is a fast-growing species that has low dimensional stability and density. The purposes of this study were to analyze the effect of impregnation treatment by using MEG (monoethylen glycol) and nano silica from betung bamboo sticks on the dimensional stability and density of sengon wood and to identify the characteristics of impregnated sengon wood. The treatments were consisted of untreated (water treated), 50% MEG (MEG), 0.5% nano silica in 50% MEG (MEGsilica 0.5%), 0.75% nano silica in 50% MEG (MEGsilica 0.75%) and 1% nano silica in 50% MEG (MEGsilica 1%). Weight percent gain, anti-swelling efficiency, water uptake, bulking effect, and density were affected by the treatments. It was due to the coverage of MEG and nano silica on cell walls and vessels of sengon wood (SEM analysis). Also, the presence of nano silica in wood treated (SEM-EDX analysis). The cristalinity of sengon wood decreases because MEG is amourphous. FT-IR showed there was no MEG bonds with sengon wood cell wall components or between nano silica and sengon wood. The optimum treatment for sengon wood was MEGsilika 1%.