MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PLYWOOD FROM BATAI (<em>PARASERIANTHES</em> <em>FALCATARIA</em>), <em>EUCALYPTUS</em> (<em>EUCALYPTUS</em> <em>PELLITA</em>) AND KELEMPAYAN (<em>NEOLAMARCKIA</em> <em>CADAMBA</em>) WITH DIFFERENT LAYER AND SPECIES ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

Timber from forest plantation can be an alternative to overcome the shortage of raw material for plywood manufacture. However the use of fast growing species may affect the plywood quality. This study investigated the mechanical properties of plywood made from three fast growing species which is batai (Paraserianthes falcataria), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus pellita) and kelempayan (Neolamarckia cadamba). Plywood with five and seven layers veneer were produced with different species arrangement. Bending, bonding shear and panel shear properties of the plywood were determined according to Japanese Agricultural Standard for Plywood. Results showed that the number of layer and veneer thickness affected the board properties. Plywood with seven layers performed better than five layers, showing higher modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and bonding shear. Species arrangement affected modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, bonding shear and panel shear. Plywood from kelempayan and kelempayan-eucalyptus arrangement performed better than plywood containing batai veneers.