The Effect of Chemical Modification with Phenol Formaldehyde and Compression on Mechanical Properties of Paulownia (P.fortunie) Wood

Shortages of raw wood materials and increasing demand for this raw material، has created challenges for wood working industries. These situation makes wood industries to use wood of fast growing species، such as Paulownia. Expanding plantations of paulownia is a feasible solution، but this species owns a low specific gravity and mechanical properties as well. In this research effects of compreg– impregnated (by phenol for maldehyde resin) treatment on improving mechanical properties of paulownia was studied. Test materials were compressed in tangential and radial directions by 3، 30، 40 and 50 percent at 170 ˚c temperature for 12 minute. Specimens were cut from treated test materials and tested according to Iso-3133 & 3787. Result have shown that resin treatment improves all mechanical properties except toughness. Control specomens had higher toughness as compared with treated ones. MOE and MOR did increase، and turned to be highest specomens compressed 50 % in redial direction.