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Gewang (Corypha utan Lamk.) is one of the endemic palm species which has been used as a building material for many years in Indonesia. The objective of this study was to enhance the overall resistance of gewang wood to biological deterioration by using smoke treatment. Samples taken from different parts of the trunks, namely bottom, middle, and upper parts in a longitudinal direction and outer and inner parts in a transversal direction, were exposed to the smoking process. Discoloration, dry-wood termite (Cryptotemes cynocephalus) and fungi (Schizophyllumcommune) resistance of smoked samples were determined according to the Indonesian standard. Based on the findings in this work, discoloration of smoked specimens was more prominent than that of the unsmoked samples. Overall termite and decay resistance of smoked samples were enhanced and higher than those of unsmoked samples without any influence of longitudinal and transversal orientations within the trunks. It appears that smoking can be considered as a potential method to improve decay and termite resistances of gewang wood.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a method for improving the physical and mechanical properties of laminated board made from oil palm trunk (OPT). The effects of pretreating the lamina with heat-pressure and altering the lamina composition of the laminated board were investigated. The outer third of OPT in cross-section had high-density wood, while the underlying third had low to medium density. The hot press was applied to pretreat the lamina that had low to medium density. The lamina were 1.5 cm in thickness, 5 cm in width, and 65 cm in length. The hot press was applied at 2.94 MPa or 4.41 MPa at 150 ℃ for 60 minutes, and the target thickness of the lamina was 1 cm. The three layers of the laminated board samples were bonded with isocyanate adhesive at a glue spread of 300 g/㎡ and cold pressed at 0.98 MPa for 3 h. The laminated board samples were tested according to Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) 234-2003. The results showed that the densification of the inner lamina did not significantly affect the physical-mechanical properties of the laminated board produced. However, the laminated board made with high-density laminas for the outer layers fulfilled the JAS 234-2003 standard for the modulus of elasticity and the modulus of rupture.

The discoloration and resistance to subterranean termite attack of four furfurylated fast-growing tropical wood species were evaluated after outdoor exposure for 1 year in Bogor, Indonesia. For comparison purposes, imidacloprid-preserved and untreated wood samples were also prepared. Discoloration of all treated samples was measured before and after the furfurylation process. The wood specimens were then placed vertically to three-fourths of their length in the ground for 1 year, at which point they were evaluated for resistance to subterranean termite attack. After furfurylation, wood samples were darker in color than untreated wood, while imidacloprid-preserved wood was lighter. After 1-year exposure, furfurylated wood samples appeared to have the highest resistance to subterranean termite attack. These samples had minimal weight loss, indicating a substantial protection level. Imidacloprid-preserved wood had less resistance to termite attack, but was more resistant than untreated wood.