Optimal Thickness and Heating Time Based on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Densified Sengon Board

Abstract

Sengon is classified as low density wood. It is widely planted in the plantation forest so that it has a high potency for industry. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the strength of its wood through densification as one way. The results showed that fluctuation in water-content reduction were only about 1% of the control. Based on the result of the Dunnet test, which tested the average of control compared with the average of treatment results, it showed a significant increase in wood density in all initial thicknesses. Dunnet test on the firmness of parallel press fibers showed that the compaction treatment was significantly affected the initial thickness of 3.0 cm and 3.5 cm, while at the initial thickness of 2.5 cm it did not give a significant effect. In the hardness test of parallel wood, the given solid compaction has a significant effect on the initial thickness of 3.0 cm and 3.5 cm, while at the initial thickness of 2.5 cm does not give a real effect. While for the hardness test of wood perpendicular to the compressed press that was given only had a significant effect on the initial thickness of 3.5 cm and did not give a significant effect on the initial thickness of 2.5 and 3.0 cm. Based on the result of this study, it can be concluded that the optimal treatment of several combinations of initial thickness, the bestresult of treatment is on wood of an initial thickness of 3.5 cm and the best heating time is of duration of 6 minutes, because it was found that in these conditions there is a significant increase to some value of criteria that were tested.