Quality Improvement of Oil Palm Trunk Properties by Close System Compression Method

Abstract

Densification of the inner part of oil palm trunk (OPT) by the close system compression (CSC) method was performed in this study. The effects of the compression temperature and time on the anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of OPT were evaluated. The inner part of OPT with an initial average density of 0.3 g/cm 3 was used as samples. Oven-dried samples were immersed in water and vacuumed until fully saturated and then compressed by CSC at 120, 140, 160 or 180℃ for 10, 20, 30 or 40 min. The anatomical characteristics of transverse and radial sections before and after compression were compared by optical microscopy. The physical and mechanical properties, including the density, recovery of set (RS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compression parallel to grain were examined. It was observed that the anatomical characteristic of the inner part of OPT (i.e., vascular bundles, vessels, and parenchyma tissue) became flattened, fractured, and collapsed after compression by CSC. The RS decreased with increasing compression temperature and time. The lower RS indicated high dimensional stability. The physical and mechanical properties (i.e., density, MOR, MOE, and compressive strength) of the inner part of OPT increased with increasing compression temperature and time. Compression by the CSC method at 160℃ for 40 min was the optimum treatment.

Distribusi Kerapatan dan Kurva Stress-Strain pada Batang Kelapa Sawit

“…Salah satu usaha yang dilakukan untuk meningkatkan sifat fisis dan mekanis batang kelapa sawit adalah dengan cara memadatkannya (densifying by compression). Perlakuan pemadatan secara signifikan dapat meningkatkan sifat fisis dan mekansi seperti yang disampaikan oleh Kutnar and Kamke [8] dan Hartono et al [5]. Kutnar and Kamke [8] mengemukakan bahwa pemadatan dengan tekanan 5,5 MPa pada kayu poplar hibrida (Populus deltoides × Populus trichocarpa) mampu meningkatkan kerapatan 98%-208%.…”

Effect of Phenol Formaldehyde Impregnation on The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Soft-Inner Part of Oil Palm Trunk

“…The results showed that compression by the CSC method successfully increased the density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compressive strength of S-OPT up to 90%, 190%, 155%, and 120%, respectively (Hartono et al, 2016). The impregnation of phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin into OPT and wood has been reported to improve dimensional stability (Furuno et al, 2004;Rowell, 2005), physical and mechanical properties (Shams et al, 2006;Bakar et al, 2013), and increased the resistance against fungal decay and termites attack (Nabil et al, 2016).…”

“…CSC is a compression method to improve permanent fixation of compressive deformation in a short time by hygrothermal treatment using moisture in wood or other lignocellulosic materials (Inoue et al, 1993). Detail description of the CSC method can be seen in our previous publication (Hartono et al, 2016).…”

“…In previous work, we have studied the densification of the inner part of S-OPT by close system compression (CSC) under different temperature and duration (Hartono et al, 2011;Hartono et al, 2016). The results showed that compression by the CSC method successfully increased the density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compressive strength of S-OPT up to 90%, 190%, 155%, and 120%, respectively (Hartono et al, 2016).…”

Fixation of Soft-inner Part of Oil Palm Trunk by Close System Compression Method

“…In previous study, Hartono et al [10] reported that densification of the S-OPT by CSC successfully increased the density, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and compressive strength of S-OPT up to 90%, 190%, 155%, and 120%, respectively. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluated the fixation of S-OPT (based on recovery of set and weight loss) by close system compression (CSC).…”