Abstract

SANABRIA, E. O.; PAZ, J. M.; CAYRE, M. E.  and  FRANK, W.. EFFECT OF THE PEG 300 AND 600 ON THE DIMENSIONAL STABILITY OF WOOD Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco Schlecht. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2007, vol.13, n.2, pp.163-167. ISSN 2007-4018.

The species Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco Schlecht is the most abundant of the “Parque Chaqueño” region but it is not used for high added value goods production because of its dimensional instability. A way to enhance dimensional stability is the swelling of cell walls with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The aim of this work was to determine the effect of PEG, molecular weight 300 and 600, on the dimensional stability of this wood using the retractability coefficient as control parameter. Samples were impregnated with PEG in a pilot plant through the Bethell process, following the IRAM Nr. 9511 norm. Subsequently the samples were dried until humidity content (HC) of 10 %. The best results were achieved impregnating wood with PEG 600 at a concentration of 50 % in water solution, at a pressure level of 12 kg.cm-2 during 120 minutes. These conditions led to the decrease of 58.2 % of the retractability coefficient of this wood.

Keywords : polyethylene glycol; differential swelling; impregnation; bethell.

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