Physical property improvement of rubberwood with polymer based on drying oil

Abstract

The effect of heat treatment on rubberwood and preparation of treated rubberwood based on fatty acids in tung oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, palm oil and epoxidized oil has been studied. The effect of heat treatment at 100-200ºC for time spans ranging 1-8 h on the mass loss (%), the appearance of rubberwood and the physical properties was investigated. Commercial rubberwood and fresh rubberwood were used for this study. Various conditions in preparation process including soaking time, type of oil and treatment process were varied and the water absorption, dimension stability, water contact angle, flexure stress and modulus of elasticity of untreated rubberwood and treated rubberwood were compared. Results showed that higher temperature of heat treatment of rubberwood gave more hydrophobic property. The treated commercial rubberwood at 160ºC and the fresh rubberwood at 180ºC gave water absorption better than other temperatures of the heat treatment and dimension stability of heat treated woods were improved. The oil treatment by impregnation procees with tung oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, palm oil and epoxidized oil improved the water absorption, volume swelling, water contact angle, flexure stress and modulus of elasticity of rubberwood.