SIFAT FISIKA DAN LAJU PENGERINGAN ALAMI PADA ARAH AKSIAL DAN RADIAL KAYU GERUNGGANG (Cratoxilon arborensis) DI KALIMANTAN TENGAH

Abstract

Wood needs to be dried until it reaches the amount of moisture content (KA) that meets the needs of the buyer, namely the environmental conditions where the wood will be used later. Position on the stem can affect the properties of wood. The aims of this study were a) to analyze the physical properties in the axial and radial directions of Gerunggang wood, namely: maximum moisture content, air moisture content, specific gravity, shrinkage; b) Analyze the natural drying rate in the axial and radial directions of Gerunggang wood. The method used in the physical properties test refers to British standards. Parameters measured were specific gravity, moisture content and radial/tangential shrinkage, natural drying rate. Statistical analysis used a completely randomized design with a 2x2 factorial. The results showed that the location in the axial and radial directions of the wood had no significant effect on the physical properties of gerunggang wood;. The natural drying rate of Gerunggang wood is significantly influenced by its location in the axial direction, where the base has a lower value than the tip.