Peningkatan Keawetan Kayu Kecapi (Sandoricum koetjape Merr) dan Kayu Rambutan (Nephelium spp.L) dengan Pemanasan dalam Minyak serta Pengaruhnya Terhadap Sifat Fisis dan Mekanis Kayu.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Community forest is the alternative of wood resource beside natural forest to fulfill wood demand which tend to increase every year. However, the use of low quality woods from community forest should be improved with proper technology, especially to increase the durability from biodeterioration such as preservation. The process of wood durability improvement is expected to be environmentally safe and affordable for public. In that regard, this study aimed to determine the durability of woods after oil heat treatment, and its effect on the physical properties (weight and density) and mechanical properties (MOE and MOR) of the woods. METHOD: Kecapi wood (Sandoricum koetjape Merr) and rambutan wood (Nepheliumspp) were used in this study and were heated in cooking oil waste at temperatures of 100 oC, 150 oC, and 180 oC for an hour and two hours. After heat treatment, the durability of woods were tested in the field to be exposed to subterranean termites based on graveyard test method (ASTM D 1758-96). The test of wood physical properties (weight and density) and mechanical properties (MOR and MOE) were conducted based on ASTM D 143. RESULT: The results showed that the durability of woods against subterranean termites increased after heat treatment. The durability value of kecapi increased from 4 to 8 by heating at 180 °C for an hour, while the durability value of rambutan increased from 7 to 10 by heating at 100 °C for an hour. Wood heating in oil also significantly increased the weight and density of the two wood species. Generally, the mechanical properties of wood were not significantly influenced by this oil heat treatment, except the MOE of kecapi wood that slightly decreased after the treatment.