ABSTRACT

Having almost exhausted its native forest wood supply, Vanuatu has sought to rebuild by establishing forest plantations. Whitewood (Endopsermum medulosum) has been identified as a native hardwood suitable as a plantation species: it has good growth, is resistant to high winds and produces finegrained white timber. However, whitewood has low wood density and comparatively poor mechanical properties. In particular, the soft timber does not perform well where good hardness is required, such as in flooring. Several wood modification techniques were tested with the primary aim of improving whitewood hardness. The methods tested were selected as simple treatments with low environmental impact and which, consequently, may be implemented safely in Vanuatu. Of the treatments tested, impregnation with methyl methacrylate polymer provided the greatest increase in hardness. Values commensurate with use as flooring were obtained (about 6000 N) that were three times greater than untreated controls. With treatment using methyl methacrylate bulking, the hardness of whitewood can be improved, expanding utilisation opportunities to include markets for flooring timbers, domestically and internationally. This, in turn, will improve investment security in whitewood production and the living standards of small rural landholders.

摘要

瓦努阿图几乎耗尽了其原生森林木材供应，因此寻求通过建立森林种植园来重建。白木 (Endopsermum medulosum) 已被确定为适合作为种植园树种的原生硬木：它生长良好，抗强风并生产细粒白色木材。然而，白木的木材密度低，机械性能相对较差。特别是，软木材在需要良好硬度的地方表现不佳，例如在地板上。测试了几种木材改性技术，主要目的是提高白木硬度。所测试的方法被选为对环境影响低的简单处理方法，因此可以在瓦努阿图安全实施。在测试的治疗中，用甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合物浸渍可最大程度地提高硬度。获得的与用作地板相当的值（约 6000 N）是未处理对照的三倍。通过使用甲基丙烯酸甲酯填充剂进行处理，可以提高白木的硬度，从而扩大利用机会，包括国内和国际地板木材市场。反过来，这将提高白木生产的投资安全性和农村小土地所有者的生活水平。在国内和国际上。反过来，这将提高白木生产的投资安全性和农村小土地所有者的生活水平。在国内和国际上。反过来，这将提高白木生产的投资安全性和农村小土地所有者的生活水平。