Paper on Influence of Thermo-Chemical Modification on the Physical and Dimensional Properties of Leucaena leucocephala Wood

 Abstract: This study was carried out to examine the physical and mechanical properties of thermally and chemically modified Leucaena leucocephala wood.  Sample planks were obtained from Akure and reduced to defect free samples of 20mm × 20mm × 60mm. Wood samples were oven dried at 105 oC and cooled in a dessicator to a constant weight before the thermal treatment. Heat treatment of wood was carried out in a Muffle Furnace at 140 0C, 160 0Cand 180 0C for 1hr and 2 hrs. Butyl Acetate was used for the chemical treatment. The Dimensional Stability, Weight Gain of the samples was measured with parameters such as Volumetric Swelling, Percentage Weight Gain and Water Absorption. The result of WA showed that there was a decrease with increased temperature and treatment time. At a treatment time of 2 hr, lower values of WA was obtained as compared to the control samples which are 22.65 at 1600C and 17.15 for 180 0C. Volumetric swelling values of 5.87 and 5.56 at 160 0C and 180 0C were obtained during the experiment. The result of the experiment showed that the water absorption of the wood decreases at increasing temperature and treatment time but lower resistance to bio-deterioration after prolonged soaking in water as compared to chemical treatment. Chemically modified wood showed increases MOR than thermally treated wood which makes them to be more durable and can therefore be used for constructional purposes.

Keywords: Modification, Acetylation, Butyl Acetate, Thermal Treatment

Table of Contents

Introduction.................................................2

Experiment..................................................3

Results and Discussion................................6

Conclusion...................................................7

References....................................................9