Physicomechanical Properties Enhancement of Fast-Growing Wood Impregnated with Wood Vinegar Animal Adhesive

Abstract

This study is a continuation of our previous work, which focused on the resistance of jabon wood to termites after impregnation with wood vinegar (WV) and animal-based adhesive (kak). This paper presents the physicomechanical properties of fast-growing jabon wood impregnated with kak at two concentrations (8% and 10%) in wood vinegar or water as a solvent with and without 4% borax. The physical properties of the impregnation solution, that is, viscosity, density, pH, and solid content, were evaluated according to SNI 06-4567-1998. Some physical parameters, such as weight percent gain (WPG), density, water uptake, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), crystallinity, and mechanical properties, i.e., modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compression strength parallel to the grain (CS), of the impregnated wood were determined. Based on these results, wood impregnated using a mixture of kak in WV presented better physical (increased WPG, density, dimensional stability, and crystallinity) and mechanical (increased MOE/MOR and compression strength) properties than wood impregnated with a water solvent or untreated wood. The wood impregnated using WV and water solvent improved the physical and mechanical properties. The density of the wood increased by 44%–58% and 32%–47%, ASE radial-tangential increased by 38%–45%; 15%–28% after 24 h of water immersion, crystallinity increased by 59%–74%; 36%, MOE increased by 46%– 57%; 28%–31%, MOR increased by 29%–34%; 14%–27%, and compression strength increased by 40%–76%; 38%–72% values to untreated wood.