| Summary: | The five-step processing method (sawing, drying, resin impregnation, heating, and hot-pressing) has been developed by Bakar et al., 2004 to improve the quality of oil palm wood (OPW). The method is capable of solving the main imperfections of OPW (strength, dimensional stability, durability, and machining characteristic), but it takes a very long time in drying and heating and considered as difficult by industry. Therefore, a six-step processing method (sawing, steaming and compression, drying, resin soaking, heating, and hot-pressing) was developed and patented (Bakar et al., 2014) which is more efficient. The effect of steaming and compression were evaluated. The highest density of 1065.25 kg/m3 was recorded at the steamed sample with 40% compression level. The MOE and MOR of the samples with pre-steaming were lower than those without steaming by 10.17% and 6.96%, respectively. The steaming pre-treatment did not give significant difference to the measured properties but Compression showed significant difference to both physical and mechanical properties measured. Therefore, steaming is optional, but it helps during densification by creating micro cracks in the OPW. Both physical and mechanical properties of compreg OPW were greatly enhanced. The drying time of OPW which normally takes longer time (3-4weeks) is basically reduce to 3 days after undergoing compression treatment. It was revealed that the properties of compreg OPW can be compare with the previous studies.
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