Analisis Sifat Fisis Kayu Jabon Putih (Neolamarckia cadamba)

Abstract

One of the many plants currently being developed in plantation forests is jabon. The jabon tree can be used as an alternative plantation forest plant and is suitable for forest rehabilitation because of its fast growth. This research was conducted to analyze the physical properties of white jabon wood, such as moisture content, density, specific gravity, shrinkage, and the natural drying of the wood. The white jabon wood used in this study is 13 years old and has a diameter of 40 cm. From the research conducted, it was determined that the green moisture content was 78.39-183.50% and the air-dry moisture content was 10.18-16.25%. Green density is 0.74-1.06 g/cm3, air-dry density is 0.34-0.62 g/cm3 and oven-dry density is 0.30-0.58 g/cm3. Green specific gravity 0.29-0.54, air-dry specific gravity 0.30-0.56 and oven-dry specific gravity 0.30-0.58. Longitudinal shrinkage 0.00-0.87%, radial shrinkage 0.69-2.07% and tangential shrinkage 1.18-4.22% with a T/R ratio of 1.04-4.79. Natural drying defects in the form of 40.74% cracks, 18.52% end cracks, 59.25% bends and 25.92% fungal attack. Based on the data analysis that has been done, it is known that the parts of the tree (base, middle, tip) have a significant effect on the moisture content, density, and specific gravity of the wood. From the value of the physical properties of the wood, it is known that the white jabon wood is a light wood with a strength class of III–IV, the dimensional stability is less stable, and the drying quality is rather good to rather poor, so it is not suitable for use as a material that requires strength and resistance to environmental conditions.