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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat treatment on surface roughness, shear strength and hardness of two tropical wood species, namely batai (Paraserainthes falcataria) and sesendok (Endospermum malaccensis). Samples were exposed to temperature levels of 120 ºC and 180 ºC for 3 h and 6 h. The surface quality of the control and heat-treated samples were determined using a stylus technique. Hardness and shear strength of the samples were evaluated using Janka hardness and block-shear test, respectively. The results reveal that the surface roughness of batai improved 3 % for 80-grit and 5 % for 180-grit samples while surface roughness of sesendok improved 7 % and 10 % for 80-grit and 180-grit, respectively by the increase of the heat temperature and prolonged durations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) also revealed that most of the tested properties on the treated wood were significantly affected by the species, girt number and also temperature. In contrast to the untreated wood species, the heat-treated wood species exhibited lower values of shear strength and hardness. Overall, the hardness and shear of both species were adversely influenced by heat exposure.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat treatment on surface roughness, shear strength and hardness of two tropical wood species, namely batai (Paraserainthes falcataria) and sesendok (Endospermum malaccensis). Samples were exposed to temperature levels of 120 ºC and 180 ºC for 3 h and 6 h. The surface quality of the control and heat-treated samples were determined using a stylus technique. Hardness and shear strength of the samples were evaluated using Janka hardness and block-shear test, respectively. The results reveal that the surface roughness of batai improved 3 % for 80-grit and 5 % for 180-grit samples while surface roughness of sesendok improved 7 % and 10 % for 80-grit and 180-grit, respectively by the increase of the heat temperature and prolonged durations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) also revealed that most of the tested properties on the treated wood were significantly affected by the species, girt number and also temperature. In contrast to the untreated wood species, the heat-treated wood species exhibited lower values of shear strength and hardness. Overall, the hardness and shear of both species were adversely influenced by heat exposure

Rubberwood particleboard were produced using urea formaldehyde (UF) resin admixed with propylamine as formaldehyde scavenger. 1 % propylamine were incorporated into 8 %, 10 %, 12 %, 14 % and 16 % UF resins, respectively. The effectiveness of propylamine addition to reduce formaldehyde emission from particleboard was examined. Physical and mechanical properties were evaluated according to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). The results showed that addition of propylamine had reduced 33 to 65 % formaldehyde emission from particleboard made with different dosages of UF resin. However, the properties of the particleboard were adversely influenced by the addition of propylamine. Higher resin dosage (≥14 %) had counterbalanced the loss of strength and dimensional stability but accompanied by increased formaldehyde emission. As a conclusion, UF dosage of 14 % admixed with 1 % propylamine is the most ideal formulation to produce particleboard with low formaldehyde emission while maintaining the desired properties.