Mechanical properties of samama wood (Antocephalus macrophyllus) after boron and castor bean oil impregnation and heat treatment

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to detect changes in the mechanical properties of samama wood (Anthocephalus macrophyllus) after impregnation with boron, castor bean oil, and heat treatment. Samama wood has low durability so samples were impregnated with boric acid followed by impregnation with castor oil in order to achieve some fixation of the boric acid. After impregnation, heat treatments were applied for four hours at 80°C and 160°C. Results showed that the modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and hardness of samama wood generally increased after the treatments. Compared with the control, the maximum differences in MOE and MOR were 19.9% and 26.7%, respectively. Castor oil treatment also increased the density and hydrophobicity of the samama wood.