EFFECT OF THERMOMECHANICAL DENSIFICATION OF OIL PALM TRUNK LUMBER ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

PRESENTED BY:
NUR AREISMAN BIN MOHD SALLEH 2009606102 SUPERVISOR: DR. KAMARULZAMAN NORDIN

INTRODUCTION
The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) was introduced to Malaysia in early 1990s.
Now day Malaysia is one of the largest producers of palm oil in the world. Generally, the economic life of the oil palm is around 25-30 years. This is due to the decreasing yield or because they have grown too tall which

makes harvesting very difficult.

It has been estimated that falling of oil palm in Malaysia yields about 85 t of

stem per hectare (Husin, Hasan & Mohammed 1986). Present availability is approximately 10 million ty-1 and this is expected to show a seven fold increase in the next ten years.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Disposal of Oil Palm Trunk lead to environmental issues.
Normally, the oil palm trunks are left to rot or are burnt in the field. However,

due to high moisture content, the oil palm trunk is not easily burnt.
Practice of disposing oil palm by burning is now considered unacceptable

because it contribute to the air pollution and affects the environment.

Shortage of raw material based from natural resources.

demand for raw material from forest resources increasing dramatically.
cost of raw material based from forest resources also increase rapidly.

JUSTIFICATION
Abundance resources of Oil Palm Trunk.
Continuous supply of raw material (oil palm trunk). No chemical usage which is environmental friendly. Reduced cost of raw material based from natural

resources.

OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
To determine the mechanical (flexural and tension) and

physical (density) properties after densification by hot press.

To compare the mechanical (flexural and tension) and physical

(density) between densified oil palm trunk and basic strength of oil palm trunk.

METHODOLOGY

Cut into sample (press)

Drying

Thermo mechanical press

Cut into sample (test)

Mechani cal and Physical Testing

results

METHODOLOGY: SAMPLE SIZE

Cut into sample size for hot press process

30 mm

300mm 20 mm

METHODOLOGY: SAMPLE SIZE

Cut into sample size for testing: Static Bending Test
20 mm

300mm 20 mm

METHODOLOGY: SAMPLE SIZE

Cut into sample size for testing: Tensile Test

METHODOLOGY: DRYING
Oil palm trunk in the form of board 30 mm x 20 mm x 300 mm will be

dry in Kiln Dry.

The drying continue until the moisture content stable which is around

15.75% (Ho et al. 1985).

The time taken for the sample achieving the suitable moisture content

(15.75 %) is around 60 days. After that the sample is ready for

densification process.

METHODOLOGY: THERMOMECHANICAL PRESS

1. Timbers were loaded into the thermo mechanical
press with an average platen temperature of 80C. 2. At the same time, stopper which is made from hardwood is place into the thermo mechanical press. 3. The thickness of stopper is 20 mm to prevent excessive

thickness reduction for oil palm trunk.

METHODOLOGY: THERMOMECHANICAL PRESS

4. The first 5 minute, the Platen pressure (175 kPa) was
applied at the surface of the timber for preheat. After 5 minute, the platen pressure were press to the final

nominal thickness of 20 mm within a 30 minute period. 5. After the densification process, the timber lengths were held in a restraint press whilst conditioning of the timber sample occurred. 6. The same step are repeated but with different platen temperature of 165C.

METHODOLOGY: PHYSICAL TESTING.

1.

Density Comparison
Mass, volume of the timber before going through densification process is taken.

2.

After densification process, the mass, volume of the timber is taken again to compare the change in density.

3. 4.

Density= mass (g)/volume (mm3). By using this equation, the density before and after the densification process is compared.

METHODOLOGY: MECHANICAL TESTING.

Tension Testing.
1.

Methods of testing small clear specimens of timber, British Standard (BS 373:1957).

2.

Tension parallel to the grain. The form and dimensions of the test piece used in one method for determining the tension parallel to grain strength shall be as illustrated in Figure 2.

3.

The test piece shall be so orientated that the direction of the annual rings at

the cubical section is perpendicular to the greater cross-sectional

dimensions. The actual dimensions at the minimum cross-section shall be measured.

METHODOLOGY: MECHANICAL TESTING.

Tension Testing.

4.

The load shall be applied to the 2 cm face of the ends of the test piece by special toothed plate grips which are forced into the wood before the test piece commenced These grips shall be designed so as to

give axial load. The load shall be applied to the test

piece at a constant head speed of 0.05 in./min.

METHODOLOGY: MECHANICAL TESTING.

Equation for calculating tensile stress as shown below
Tensile stress at limit of proportionality: =P/A (lb/sq2) where A= Minimum area of cross-section of test length. L = Gauge length in inches between extensometer points. P= Load in pounds at limit of proportionality. P = Maximum load in pounds. =Extension in inches at limit of proportionality.

METHODOLOGY: MECHANICAL TESTING.

Flexural Testing

1.

Methods of testing small clear specimens of timber, British Standard (BS 373:1957).

2. The static bending test carried out by central loading

method.
3. The dimensions of the central loading test piece are 2

cm by 2 cm by 30 cm.

METHODOLOGY: MECHANICAL TESTING.

Flexural Testing

4. In the central loading method the distance between

the points of support of the test piece is 28 cm, according to the standard used, and the loading heads shall move at a constant speed of 0.26 in/min.

METHODOLOGY: MECHANICAL TESTING.

Flexural Testing

Equation to determine the Modulus of Elasticity and Modulus of Rupture: MOE= PL2/4 bh2

MOR= 3PL/2bh2
Where:

P = Maximum load in pounds. P= Load in pounds at limit of proportionality. =Deflection in inches at mid length at limit of proportionality. b = Breadth in millimeters h = Depth in millimeters

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) will be used in the

data analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple

comparisons-tests will be conducted to analyze the data calculated

and to determine the significant effects of densified oil palm trunk using thermo mechanical press with different temperature applied on tension, flexural and density changes..

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Oil Palm Trunk (Elaeis guineensis) Core Region at Height 1m-3m

Cut into sample.

Densification (80 C, 175 kPs)

Densification (165C, 175 kPs)

Kiln-Dry

Mechanical properties (flexural and Tension)

Physical Properties (Density)

Mechanical properties (flexural and Tension)

Physical Properties (Density)

Mechanical properties (flexural and Tension)

Physical Properties (Density)

RESULT
CHANGE IN DENSITY
MECHANICAL TESTING
Static Bending Test Tensile Test

Density change in sample for Static Bending Test (kg/m3)-average

400

350
Density (kg/mm3) 300 250 200 150 100 50 254.8

341.98

313.68 213.46

0
80C Temperature (C) Before TMD After TMD 165C

Density change in sample for Tension Test (kg/m3) average

400

350
Density (kg/mm3) 300 250 200 150 100 50 204.3

335.26 253.52

303.76

0
80 C Temperature (C) Before TDM After TDM 165 C

Static Bending Test

Modulus of Elasticity
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 378.38 294.67 MOE (N/mm2)

249.95

Kiln Dry

80C Temperature (C) Kiln Dry 80C 165C

165C

Static Bending Test

Modulus of Rupture
30 25 MOR (N/mm2)

24.65
17.46

24.26

20
15 10 5 0

Kiln Dry

80C Temperature (C) Kiln Dry 80C 165C

165C

Tensile Test

Tensile Test
Tensile Stress
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

7.84

Tensile stress (N/mm2)

4.01

3.04

Kiln Dry

80C Temperature (C) Kiln Dry 80C 165C

165C

Conclusion
Thermo Mechanical Densification process success to increase the

density of the oil palm trunk timber.

MOE value for sample press at different temperature are different. This is due to the percentage of lignin that melt inside the timber. MOR value were quite similar between sample press at 80C and 165

C. This result occur partially due to high number of defects included in the timber samples tested.
Shear strength also show the similar result. The sample press at 80C

and 165 C having only slightly difference value of shear strength.

REFERENCES

S. C. Lim, K. S. Gan. No. 35, 2005. Characteristic and Utilization of Oil Palm Stem. Timber Bulletin Technology (FRIM) A.N Haslett. 1990. The Suitability of Oil Palm Trunk for Timber Uses. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 2 (3): 243-251. Kamarudin Hassan, Anis Mokhtar, Choo Yuen May, Mohd Basri Wahid. 2007. Malaysian Palm Oil Board Information Series. MPOB TT No. 364. Wan Asma Ibrahim, Abdul Razak Mohd Ali. 1990. The Effect of Chemical Treatment on the Dimensional Stability of Oil Palm Stem and Rubber wood. Tropical Forest Science 3 (3): 291-298 R. Adlam. 2005. Thermomechanical Densification of Timber: Initial Investigation of the Potential of Softwood Timber. Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation. Razak Wahab, Hashim W. Samsi, Azmy Mohamed, Othman Sulaiman. November, 2008. Utilization Potential of 30Year-old Oil Palm Trunks Laminated Veneer Lumbers for Non-structural Purposes. Journal of Sustainable Development. Peter Favot. Aug 1986. Process of Densifying the Less Dense Wood. US Patent Document