Variasi Keawetan Alami Kayu Sungkai (Peronema canescens Jack.)

Abstract

Sungkai (P. canescens Jack.) tergolong dalam fancy wood karena memiliki corak yang dekoratif dan banyak digunakan sebagai bahan baku mebel dan finir indah. Penelitian ini mengkaji variasi vertikal dan variasi horizontal keawetan alami kayu sungkai dalam satu batang pohon dalam rangka pemanfaatan kayu secara optimal sekaligus untuk menetapkan tindakan pengawetan yang perlu dilakukan. Contoh uji berupa log yang mewakili bagian tengah, ujung, dan pangkal batang (variasi vertikal); serta kayu normal, reaksi, dan opposite (variasi horizontal). Digunakan juga kayu pinus sebagai pembanding. Keawetan alami kayu dievaluasi berdasarkan hasil uji lapangan selama 3 bulan dengan mengacu kepada ASTM D 1758. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kehilangan berat bervariasi menurut arah vertikal dan arah horizontal, sedangkan tingkat serangan faktor perusak pada penampang lintang contoh uji tidak bervariasi. Secara keseluruhan, pangkal batang memiliki keawetan alami yang lebih baik dibandingkan bagian tengah dan ujung batang; sedangkan keawetan alami kayu opposite lebih baik dibandingkan kayu reaksi dan kayu normalnya.

Sungkai (P. canescens Jack.) is classified as a fancy wood because it has a decorative figure and widely used as raw material for furniture and fancy veneers. Vertical and horizontal variations in natural durability of this wood from a single tree have been studied for optimal utilization as well as to determine the necessary preservation treatments. The test sample was a log representing the tip, middle, and base of the stem (vertical variation); as well as normal, reaction, and opposite wood (horizontal variation). Pine wood was also utilized as a comparison. Natural durability was evaluated based on the results of 3 months-field test following to ASTM D 1758. The results showed that weight loss varied vertically and horizontally, while the attack of destructive factors on the cross section of the sample is not influenced by the location of the sample in the stem. The base of the stem has better natural durability than the middle and the tip; whereas that of opposite wood is better than that of reaction and normal wood.