PEOPLE have always relied on synthetic chemicals to treat wood, however, most of these chemicals are known to be toxic, and can cause serious health and environmental harm if not used properly.
In an effort to address the concern, researchers at the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FPRDI) are looking into a process called thermal modification (TM) as a more eco-friendly way of protecting wood and bamboo from insect pests and fungi.
“Thermal modification uses high heat to change the kind of chemicals present in a piece of wood. With the right amount of heat and time of exposure, the right chemical changes take place. These usually make the wood more durable as it becomes more stable (more weather-proof, less prone to swelling and shrinking) and less appetizing to termites,” says DOST-FPRDI assistant scientist Juanito Jimenez.
The downside of TM is that extremely high heat can affect the strength of the material and give it a darker color.
The challenge is to find the right mix of temperature and treatment time that will not cause much change in wood or bamboo strength.
“TM is already being used in Europe, the US, and Canada, as well as some Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, and it’s about time we check how we can apply it in the Philippines,” he says.
Jimenez is currently verifying the gluing and finishing traits of thermally modified bamboo in a project funded by the DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
He and his team have also recently finished determining the physical and mechanical properties of three thermally modified bamboo species using spent engine oil as medium, and got promising results.
They are excited about the possible applications of TM in the country’s wood-based sector.
Although this is already a mature technology in some countries, the process needs to be studied locally since our small and medium enterprises can’t afford to buy imported TM equipment.
And even if we can buy equipment, we would still need to check how various wood/ bamboo species respond to the procedure.
“Just like in kiln-drying, since each species is unique, we need to develop the right heat treatment protocol for each one,” he explains.
Meanwhile, the Furnace Type Dryer (FTD), a technology developed by the DOST-FPRDI, is being improved to address the challenges of the forest-based industries.
FTD aims to shorten drying time, increase the dryer’s thermal efficiency, and produce high quality kiln dried lumber, bamboo, and other raw materials for the forest-based industries.
It is being improved through the project “Improvement and Semi-automation of the Furnace Type Dryer for the lumber, bamboo, and other raw materials of the forest-based industries,” which is funded and monitored by the DOST-PCAARRD.
The project aims to develop a thermally efficient and innovative design of kiln dryer that will enhance the productivity, product quality, and competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the agro-forest based and allied sectors. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
