COLOUR CHANGES AND MORPHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF IMPREGNATED JABON WOOD USING POLYMERISED MERBAU EXTRACTIVES

Abstract

Colour can be one of the preferencial factors prior to making a decision when people want to make a purchase of a wood product. Impregnation treatment can alter the wood colour. This study investigated the colour change of young plantation Jabon wood due to impregnation using Polymerised Merbau Extractives. Colour evaluation was done using the CIEL*a*b* system. Investigations also included morphological appearance by Scanning Electron Microscopic and chemical change by Fourier Transform Infrared analysis. The results demonstrated that impregnation treatment using selected Polymerised Merbau Extractives i.e. PME22 and PME33, resulted in the colour change of the wood. Appearance of the impregn..