No mass production furniture from cocolumber. ⢠Recently, cocolumber (veneer) used in plywood manufacturing. ⢠Price of coconut log is RM 7 / 4ft.
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLID COCOLUMBER AND ITS USES Project Leader: Mr. Abdul Hamid bin Salleh Co-team: Khairul bin Masseat Coconut project; FITEC + FRIM
INTRODUCTION Status in Malaysia: • Total plantation per ha. decreasing over the year. Year
Source: DOA, Malaysia (estimated figures)
Decreasing
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010e
Total area planted under coconut (ha) 151,004 136,915 131,709 143,089 130,481 114,949 109,185 80,000
Cont’d •
Competition with oil palm for land (A.Sivapragasam, 2008).
•
Government – replanting unproductive & old with MATAG & Pandan (aromatic) coconut (National Coconut Development Plan 2001-2010).
• •
•
No mass production furniture from cocolumber. Recently, cocolumber (veneer) used in plywood manufacturing. Price of coconut log is RM 7 / 4ft.
Cont’d Advantages: • Zero waste tree (‘green’ plant). • Natural beauty of grain structure. • No need to colour for finished products. • No need to do resin impregnation to used the lumber like oil palm lumber (outer part).
OBJECTIVES Main objective: • To introduce cocolumber as a potential alternative raw material for furniture.
Specific objectives: • Physical and mechanical properties of Malaysian cocolumber. • Comparison between outer and inner part (green and air-dried) and its uses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS • • •
•
Trees were collected from Bagan Datoh, Perak (plantation). Age around 40-50 years and average diameter is 30cm. Stick preparation according to ASTM D5536-97 (2004) and testing accordance BS 373:1957. Divided into outer and inner part also green and air-dried samples.
Cont’d • •
Physical test such as MC and basic density. Mechanical test such as bending (MOR & MOE), shear and compression parallel to grain test.
Cont’d Air dry sticks for physical & mechanical test (attack by fungus & twisted– inner part)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Wood samples
MC (%)
Density (kg/m3)
MOR (N/mm2)
MOE (N/mm2)
Compression (N/mm2)
Shear (N/mm2)
Outer
116
590
69.8
10296
37.1
4.6
Inner
242
327
24.6
7738
12.6
3.8
Outer
16.0
751
85.4
9576
48.7
12.0
Inner
14.5
390
28.4
3667
16.2
4.8
1Green
162
1120
29.0
4500
21.2
5.1
1Air-dried
19.2
495
36.0
5300
23.9
5.7
2Outer
12
600+
53
11414
57
13
2Inner
12
250-399
33
3633
19
n.a
GREEN
AIR-DRIED
PREVIOUS
source: 1 The strength properties of some Malaysian timbers (pg. 56), 1979, raw material from Telok Anson. 2 Killmann, 1988.
Cont’d • •
•
The strength of cocolumber can be related to density. Density is sort in dry timber because in green condition the high density is just as heavy as the low density due to the greater MC. The different strength between outer and inner about 50%.
USES OF COCOLUMBER •
•
Outer part/hardwood: o Furniture o Flooring o Window frame o Tools handle o Kitchen cabinet Inner part/softwood: o Paneling Source: Alston A.S, Coconut stem utilisation seminar, held at Nuku’alofa, 1976
SCHOOL CHAIR
COCONUT PLYWOOD
CONCLUSION • •
• •
Cocolumber need to be dry properly before use. Inner part cocolumber should do resin impregnation to increase strength properties. Convert into veneer to maximize coconut tree utilization. Market strategies for cocolumber.
OTHER RESEARCHES Paper presented: • Anatomical study. • Veneer study. • Bending properties (B,M,T portions). • Jointing + furniture making & testing. Next experiments: • Lamination study. • Screw withdrawal study. • Plywood and LVL study.
