Authors : Nur Ilya Farhana Md Noh, Zakiah Ahmad and Mohd Hisbany Mohd Hashim
Abstract: In order to improve a timber natural quality and equip the timber with new upgraded properties, the timber must be treated. One of the methods of treatment which is environmental friendly is heat treatment. The high level of temperature used in this treatment will modify the properties of timber by using high temperature instead of using chemical preservatives as common practice. This study presents the effect of heat treatment on physical properties which is moisture content for two types of Malaysia hardwood timber namely keruing and light red meranti. Ceramic fiber had been used as material to design an electronic furnace was used as an oven for the heat treatment process. The result shows a reduction in moisture content for both species after heat treatment and the difference is significant. Lower in moisture content indicates a positive indicator which theoretically leading to the increment of movement stability and maximise the strength because mechanical properties is increasing when moisture content is low.
Nur Ilya Farhana Md Noh, Zakiah Ahmad and Mohd Hisbany Mohd Hashim, 2016. Moisture Content Assessment of Heat Treated Malaysian Timber: The Case of Keruing (Dipterocarpus sp.) And Light Red Meranti (Shorea sp.). Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11: 1784-1787.