Fast-Growing Magnetic Wood Synthesis by an In-Situ Method

Istie Rahayu; Esti Prihatini; Rohmat Ismail; Wayan Darmawan; Lina Karlinasari; Gilang Dwi Laksono

doi:10.3390/polym14112137

Fast-Growing Magnetic Wood Synthesis by an In-Situ Method

Polymers (Basel). 2022 May 24;14(11):2137. doi: 10.3390/polym14112137.

Authors

Istie Rahayu¹, Esti Prihatini¹, Rohmat Ismail², Wayan Darmawan¹, Lina Karlinasari¹, Gilang Dwi Laksono¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forest Products, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia.
² Department of Chemical, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia.

Abstract

Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) is a fast-growing wood with low quality due to its low density and strength. The quality can be increased by modifying the wood through impregnation with various chemical compounds. In this study, jabon was impregnated with a solution of Fe and immersed in a strong base (NaOH) or a weak base (NH₄OH) to form magnetite (Fe₃O₄) in-situ. This study analysed the use of NaOH and NH₄OH in synthesising magnetic jabon wood and evaluated the wood's characteristics. The impregnation process began with a vacuum of -0.5 bar for 0.5 h and then a pressure of 1 bar for 2 h. The samples subsequently underwent assessment of their dimensional stability, density, and characteristics. The results showed that impregnation with Fe solution followed by NaOH or NH₄OH significantly affected the density and dimensional stability of the wood. The polymer weight gain was higher with NaOH, while the anti-swelling efficiency was higher with NH₄OH. The density and bulking effect were increased, but the water uptake was decreased. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed the successful synthesis of magnetite. Scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed that magnetite covered the vessel fibre cell walls, and vibrating sample magnetometry analysis showed significant magnetic properties of the wood.

Keywords: impregnation; jabon; magnetic wood; physical properties.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and Technology of Indonesia (Grant No. 09/E1/KPT/2021 and Grant No. 077/E4.1/AK.04.PT/2021).