• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.324-335
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• 2019

Timber from plantation forests has inferior physical and mechanical properties compared to timber from natural forest because it is mostly from fast-growing tree species that are cut at a young age. Filling cell voids with methyl methacrylate (MMA) can improve the wood properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of MMA-impregnated wood from three fast-growing wood species, namely jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq.), mangium (Acacia mangium Willd) and pine (Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese). Wood samples were either immersed in MMA monomer or impregnated with it and then heated to induce the polymerization process. Jabon, which was the lowest density wood, had the highest polymer loading, followed by pine and mangium. The physical and mechanical properties of samples were affected by wood species and the presence of MMA, with higher-density wood having better properties than wood with a lower density. Physical and mechanical properties of MMA wood were enhanced compared to untreated wood. Furthermore, the impregnation process was better than immersion process resulting the physical and mechanical properties. Based on MOR values, the MMA woods were one strength class higher compared to untreated wood with regard to Strength Classification of Indonesian Wood.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.748-755
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• 2018

Timber from fast-growing tree species is susceptible to by biodeterioration attack, particularly subterranean termites. Impregnation with methyl methacrylate (MMA) potentially increases wood resistance to subterranean termite attack. Four wood species, namely sengon (Falcataria moluccana), jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba), mangium (Acacia mangium), and pine (Pinus merkusii), were impregnated with MMA, and samples of untreated and imidacloprid-preserved wood were prepared for comparison purposes. Small stakes, sized 0.8 cm by 2 cm in cross section by 20 cm in the longitudinal direction, were inserted into the ground for 3 months, and the weight loss of each specimen was determined at the end of the test period. A factorial $4{\times}3$ completely randomized design was used for data analysis; the first factor was wood species, and the second factor was treatment. The results showed that MMA polymer loadings were 27.88%, 24.91%, 14.14%, and 17.81% for sengon, jabon, mangium, and pine, respectively, and amounts of imidacloprid retention were $7.56kg/m^3$, $5.98kg/m^3$, $5.34kg/m^3$, and $9.53kg/m^3$, respectively. According to an analysis of variance, wood species, treatment, and interaction of both factors significantly affected the weight loss of wood specimens. Mangium had the smallest weight loss, followed by pine, sengon, and jabon. MMA impregnation into the wood increased the resistance of wood samples to subterranean termite attack during in-ground testing, but the resistance level was lower than that of imidacloprid-preserved wood. Except for mangium wood, the MMA treatment did not significantly affect resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.76-85
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• 2020

This study was conducted to analyze the application of boron compounds, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and heat treatment (HT) on changes in the density, moisture content, and flexural properties of samama (Anthocephalus macrophyllus) wood. Samama wood was impregnated with borax (BX) and boric acid (BA) using a pressure method at 5 atm for 4 h. Afterwards, the wood was impregnated with MMA at the same pressure and duration. Finally, the samama wood was given HT at 90 ℃ and 180 ℃. The results indicate that there was a weight gain of 93.4% in the wood impregnated using BA and MMA monomer and HT at 90 ℃. Consequently, the wood's density increased by 82.3%. Increased MOE and MOR percentages of 32.2% and 29.4%, respectively, were also found. HT at 180 ℃ degraded the wood components and MMA, and consequently, the density, MOE, and MOR also decreased. The wood impregnated by BX, BA, and MMA, and subjected to HT also had decreased moisture content (MC). This research recommends that the application of boron (BX, BA) should be combined with an MMA monomer and HT at 90 ℃ as an alternative method to improve samama wood quality. If darker color is preferable, HT should be conducted at 180 ℃.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-305
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• 1972

The polymerization rates of monomer or monomer mixture impregnated with catalyst into domestic soft woods such as pinus densiflora, pinus rigida and poplus deltoides e. t. c. were measured. The results were compared with those obtained by radiation curing method and the following conclusions were derived ; (1) Pinus densiflora and pinus rigida are superior to the poplus deltoides, and methyl methacrylate(M. M. A. ) is more effective than other monomers as far as the polymerization rates are only taken into account. (2) The polymerization rate of vinyl acetate is generally slow. And the polymerization rate of the monomer is the slowest in case of being impregnated into poplus deltoides. However, the polymerization rate of the comonomer composed of vinylacetate and M. M. A. is the fastest among the other monomers or monomer mixtures in woods regardless of the curing method. (3) The general trend of polymerization of monomer in wood is similar to that of monomers themselves in both curing methods if the woods contain not much resin.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.3-16
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• 1974

One of the disadvantages of. wood and wood products is their hydroscopicity or dimensional instability. This is responsible for the loss of green volume of lumber as seasoning degrade. Dimensional stabilization is needed to substantially reduce seasoning defects and degrades and for increasing the serviceability of wood products. Recently, considerable world-wide attention has been drawn to the so-called Wood-Plastic Composites by irradiation-and heat-catalyst-polymerization methods and many research and developmental works have been reported. Wood-Plastic Composites are the new products having the superior mechanical and physical properties and the combinated characteristics of wood and plastic. The purpose of this experiment was to obtain the basic data for the improvement of wooden materials by manufacturing WPC. The species examined were Mulpurae-Namoo (Fraxinus, rhynchophylla), Sea-Namoo (Carpinus laxiflora), Cheungcheung-Namoo (Cornus controversa), Gorosae-Namoo (Acermono), Karae-Namoo(Juglans mandshurica) and Sanbud-Namoo (Prunus sargentii), used as blocks of type A ($3{\times}3{\times}40cm$) and type B ($5{\times}5{\times}60cm$), and were conditioned to about 10~11% moisture content before impregnation in materials humidity control room. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) as monomer and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator are used. The monomer containing BPO was impregnated into wood pieces in the vacuum system. After impregnation, the treated samples were polymerized with heat-catalyst methods. The immersed weights of monomer in woods are directly proportionated to the impregnation times. Monomer impregnation properties of Cheungcheung-Namoo, Mulpurae-Namoo and Seo-Namoo are relatively good, but in Karae-Namoo, it is very difficult to impregnate the monomer MMA. Fig. 3 shows the linear relation between polymer retentions in wood and polymerization times; that is, the polymer loadings are increasing with polymerization times. Furthermore species, moisture content, specific gravity and anatomical or conductible structure of wood, bulking solvents and monomers etc have effects on both of impregnation of monomer and polymer retention. Physical properties of treated materials are shown in table 3. Increasing rates of specific gravity are ranged 3 to 24% and volume swelling 3 to 10%. ASE is 20 to 46%, AE 14 to 50% and RWA 18 to 40%. Especially, the ASE in relation to absorption of liquid water increases approximately with increase of polymer content, although the bulking effect of the polymerization of monomer may also be influential. WPCs from Mulpurae-Namoo and Cheungcheung-Namoo have high dimensional stability, while its of Karae-Namoo and Seo-Namoo are-very low. Table 4 shows the mechanical properties of WPCs from 6 species. With its specific gravity and polymer loading increase, all mechanical properties are on the increase. Increasing rate of bending strength is 10 to 40%, compression strength 25 to 70%, ;impact bending absorbed energy 4 to 74% and tensile strength 18 to 56%. Mulpurae-Namoo and Cheungcheung-Namoo with high polymer content have considerable high increasing rate of strengths. But incase of Karae-Namoo with inferior monomer impregnation it is very low. Polymer retention in cell wall is 0.32 to 0.70%. Most of the polymer is accumulated in cell lumen. Effective. of polymer retention is 58.59% for Mulpurae-Namoo, 26.27% for Seo-Namoo, 47.98% for Cheungcheung-Namoo, 25.64% for Korosae-Namoo, 9.96% for Karae-Namoo and 25.84% for Sanbud-Namoo.