Quality improvement of oil palm trunk properties by close system compression method

초록

Densification of the inner part of oil palm trunk (OPT) by the close system compression (CSC) method wa performed in this study. The effects of the compression temperature and time on the anatomical, physical an mechanical properties of OPT were evaluated. The inner part of OPT with an initial average density of 0. g/cm3 was used as samples. Oven-dried samples were immersed in water and vacuumed until fully saturated an then compressed by CSC at 120, 140, 160 or 180 for 10, 20, 30 or 40 min. The anatomical characteristic of transverse and radial sections before and after compression were compared by optical microscopy. The physica and mechanical properties, including the density, recovery of set (RS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulu of rupture (MOR), and compression parallel to grain were examined. It was observed that the anatomica 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 temperatur 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 compressio temperature and time. Compression by the CSC method at 160-for 40 min was the optimum treatment.

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