Evaluation on mechanical properties of plywood from two fast growing species: Neolamarckia cadamba and Paraserianthes falcataria

Neolamarckia cadamba (Laran@Kelampayan) and Paraserianthes falcataria (Batai) are both fast growing species known to be planted in Malaysia for their high growth rate, therefore made as reforestation species. This study had been done in evaluating the mechanical properties of these species as a new wood material for plywood production as an alternative and discovering used for the depleting supply of big diameter log from virgin forest. The tree samples were harvested from trial plot in UiTM Pahang, Bandar Tun Razak Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia and sent to plywood mills nearby for plywood production. Plywood was composed in five layers and seven layers with 12 mm thickness and used melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) as their binder based on commercial industry production. Panels were cut and tested according to Japanese Agriculture Standard for plywood (JAS 2014) at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia. Based on minimum standard requirement, results show that both species were suitable to be used in plywood production for general use and structural (decorative) purpose. In addition, increased veneer layers were improved the panel strength. This study shows those species had potential to be an alternative wood material for plywood industry in Malaysia thus can reduce independency of wood species from virgin forest.