Dimensional Stability of Korean Red Pine Wood Treated with Water-Soluble Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin

The objective of this study was the dimensional stabilization of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) wood by the water-based thermosetting resin. A commercial melamine-formaldehyde resin was impregnated into wood samples and cured. The weight and dimensional change of woods treated by the resin, and the absorption and dimensional behavior of treated woods were investigated. The melamine-formaldehyde resin treatment improved significantly the dimensional stability of pine wood and showed about 40% of antiswelling efficiency. The mechanism of dimensional stabilization was interpreted as the complicated reason, such as bulking effect by the resin in cell wall, mechanical restraint and/or blocking of hygroscopic site by the resin in lumen.