Densification of Juvenile Planted Kelempayan (Neolamarckia cadamba) Wood for Furniture Component

Kelempayan (Neolamarckia cadamba) is one out of nine selected species which has been recommended as a forest plantation program under Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC). This effort has been implemented to reduce pressure on natural timber species in order to ensure continuous availability of raw material for wood based industries. In line with this policy, this study was utilized a juvenile planted kelempayan as a raw material to produce a component for furniture part fabrication. Generally, the properties of a juvenile wood are not suitable to be used as a raw material for furniture component especially in terms of durability and strength. Therefore, the objective of this study were densified juvenile kelempayan wood and increased its properties. The trees (7 years-old) were obtained from Research Station of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) at Maran, Pahang. The trees were planted in June 2006 and were harvested on April 2013. Then the logs were converted into sawn timber. The method of wood densification was through resin impregnation in a vacuum vessel and soaking in atmospheric air pressure for 24 hours. Then the samples were oven dried at 120°C (urea formaldehyde resin) and 150°C (phenol formaldehyde resin) for 30 minutes. The results show an improvement value between untreated and treated wood on density, weight percent gain, anti-swelling efficiency, resistance of water absorption and bending strength. Indeed, this study contributes multiple benefits especially as value added substitute material for furniture industry as well as conserving biodiversity because it is a renewable material.