Full Length Research Paper

The effect of air dried conditions on mechanical and physical properties of laminated and impregnated wood

Murat Özalp¹ and Süleyman Korkut²*

¹Dumlupinar University, Faculty of Technical Education, Department of Furniture and Decoration Education Kutahya, 43500, Turkey.

²Duzce University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Industrial Engineering, Duzce, 81620, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: suleymankorkut@duzce.edu.tr. Tel: +90 380 5421137. Fax: +90 380 5421136.

Accepted 10 April, 2009

In this study, laminated Scotch pine samples bonded with polyurethane adhesive were impregnated with water repellent (protim WR230) and preservative (tanalith-C). Non-impregnated and impregnated Scotch pine samples were air-dried by placing them uncovered in a concrete above ground for one year. Bending strength, compression strength, bonding strength and physical properties were determined. Bending strength was reduced by 20% for non-impregnated samples, 12% for tanalith impregnated samples, and 11.3% for protimWR230. Compression strength was increased by 5.5% for non-impregnated samples, 10.1% for tanalith treated and 10.4% for ProtimWR230. Bonding strength was reduced by 8.3% for untreated samples, but increased by 36.05 and 35.7% for tanalith and ProtimWR230, respectively. Impregnated samples were colonized by fungi during the one year outdoor conditioning; both dimensional and insect damages were not observed. Treated samples were well protected but non-impregnated samples were covered by white rot, insects, color changes and considerable odour. In impregnating test samples, water and relative humidity affected the bonding properties positively for one year, and this increased the bonding and compression strength. But bending strengths were reduced. In determining the bonding and compression strengths, the applied force parallel to adhesive layer; while in determining bending strength the applied force is vertical to adhesive layer.

Key words: Weathering, bending strength, compression strength, bonding strength, Scotch pine.