PROJECT TITLE:

“Study on the manufacturing process of Rubber wood and use of Rubber wood”

Contents:

Introduction

What is Rubber wood?

Features

Properties of Rubber wood

Manufacturing process

Sawing, Machining, Working and Finishing Properties

Rubber wood vs. Teak wood

Application of Rubber wood

Products of Rubber wood

Bibliography

Introduction:

Rubberwood is taken from Hevea brasiliensis, also called the rubber tree or Para rubber tree. These trees are cultivated for their natural latex sap, but they also yield a high quality wood with a tight grain which can be used in a wide range of applications. Despite the name, rubberwood does not bounce or stretch; the name is a reference to the parent tree. In addition to being beautiful, rubberwood is also an ecologically sustainable timber, making it popular with people who are concerned about the health of the world's forests.

Rubber trees are in the Euphorbiaceae family, and they produce a commercially valuable sap. People have been tapping rubber trees for their latex for centuries, and although synthetic alternatives have been developed, there is still a lively market for natural latex. However, after around 30 years, a rubber tree will start to produce much less latex, making it no longer commercially sustainable. These older trees are cut down so that new rubber trees can be planted.

The wood of felled rubber trees has traditionally been used for fuel and to make furniture in the regions where these trees are cultivated, but latex farmers realized that the wood could have commercial value as well, and they started to export it. Since the trees are not felled specifically for timber use, many people consider rubberwood to be ecologically sound, simply using up a waste product of the latex production industry. It is also a great building material, since it is durable and very strong, and it takes a range of finishes.

Many companies which focus on high quality and unusual furniture use rubberwood in their products. It may also be labeled as parawood, to disassociate it from images of rubber. Consumers can recognize rubberwood by its density and tight grain. Rubberwood furnishings are very solid, with a smooth, even look which some people find quite enjoyable. The wood is sometimes compared to teak, another close grained tropical wood, and some people prefer rubberwood to teak since teak is not always a sustainable choice.

What is Rubber wood?

Rubber wood is a hardwood from the maple family of woods Rubber wood has very little tendency to warp or crack Rubber wood-Eco Friendly!

Rubber wood is often the most misunderstood species of wood in the furniture industry. The name rubber wood invokes a variety of misconceptions as to its features and to its durability. Rubber wood (also called Para wood in Thailand) is the standard common name for the timber of Heave brasiliensis.

Features:

One important feature of rubber wood that is very important in today's world. Rubber wood is the most ecologically "friendly" lumber used in today's furniture industry. After the economic life of the rubber tree, which is generally 26-30 years, the latex yields become extremely low and the planters then fell the rubber trees and plant new ones. So, unlike other woods that are cut down for the sole purpose of producing furniture, rubber wood is used only after it completes its latex producing cycle and dies. This wood is therefore eco-friendly in the sense that we are now using what was going as waste.

The external layer of rubber wood chips is so comfortable for turning on screws that you need not consider. Extending its capacities beyond the furniture world, it is common to find that these chips are used as cheap source of fuel as well. There are several online retailers who offer quality rubber wood for a reasonable price. Compare all the quotes offered by them and then stick to the one that has got the best price and most robust quality. Another feature of these chips is that you can use the same item for different purposes like in the making of furniture, kitchen racks, office shelves and outhouse. The time taken to reshape and resize them is very less.

Properties of Rubber wood:

· Density (kg/M3 at 16%MC ---------------------------- 560-640 · Tangential Shrinkage Coefficient (%) ------------- 1.2 · Radical Shrinkage Coefficient (%) ----------------- 0.8 · Hardness (N) ----------------------------------------------- 4,350 · Static Bending, N/mm at 12% MC ------------------ 66 · Modulus of elasticity/mm at 12%MC ------------ 9,700 Source: FRIM, Malaysia

As can be seen, these properties compare well with those of conventional hardwoods. Thus we have the ideal substitute with the major difference that Rubber wood is cheaper, more plentiful and Eco-Friendly.

 

Grading and quality checks are enforced at every stage of the manufacturing process. Random samples are tested for compliance with established standards in our well equipped factory laboratory.

RAW MATERIALThe fiber materials are Rubber Wood logs, branches and wood residue. Rubber wood is a light-colored, medium density, homogeneous material suitable for producing high quality particleboard.

CHIPPING & FLAKINGThe rubber wood materials are chipped before being reduced to fine flakes of the desired thickness and length. This contributes to the optimum strength and smooth finish on the surfaces of the boards.

DRYING & SCREENINGThe wet flakes are dried in a hot gas dryer to the required moisture level. The dried flakes are then screened to separate fine and core particles and stored in the surface and core silo.

GLUE-MIXING & BLENDINGThe surface and core particles are separately mixed with glue, wax emulsion and other additives metered accurately to achieve quality of high standard.

MAT FORMINGThe resonated particles are spread by air and mechanical forming, incorporated by Computerized

Programmable Control System, ensuring consistent mat density and uniform weight distribution.HOT PRESSINGThe Hot Press which operates automatically on Programmable Logic Control compresses the mat under high pressure and controlled temperature to form boards to precise thickness.

COOLINGThe finished boards coming out from the Hot Press is weighed automatically to make sure that the determined density is obtained and are then placed on the Star Cooler to allow glue setting.

SIZINGThe master panel boards are checked for bonding conformance and thickness tolerance before side trimmed and cut to accurate dimension. The panels are stacked for intermediate storage.

SANDINGThe raw boards are stored for final curing to stabilize the board properties. These boards will later be calibrated to accurate thickness, sanded to fine surface finishes and graded.

LAMINATINGThe graded plain boards may be laminated with melamine impregnated decorative paper by Short Cycle Press process or natural veneer. The boards are regarded and packed for final shipping.

 

Sawing, Machining, Working and Finishing Properties:

Rubber wood is easy to work in sawing and machining. Clogging of saw with latex can easily be eliminated by dabbing of saw blade with fuel oil. For best results in sawing, narrow gauge saw blade with teeth having top clearance angle of 15* and front rake of 20* should be used. Short length of sawn planks can be overcome by finger jointing.

Rubber wood has good machining and working qualities. A cutting angle of 30o gives very smooth surface on planning and stands well to further smoothening of the surface. It can be finished to a very glossy look on polishing and can be given ammonia fumigation cum bark extract -quenching treatment to obtain golden to dark brown hues and decorative figures. Rubber wood can be bent in steam or in ammonia to make curved items. It takes up stains well and being light in colour it can be stained to the shades of teak, rosewood, mahogani, beech, cherry etc.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RUBBERWOOD &TEAKWOOD?

Rubber wood vs. Teakwood

Specific gravity

Weight Kg/cu. m*

Tensile stress, parallel to grain, Kg/cm^2

Compressive stress, parallel  to grain, Kg/cm^2

Compressive stress, perpendicular  to grain, Kg/cm^2

Shear strength, parallel to grain, Kg/cm^2

Hardness

Teak

wood

0.604 676 62 532 101 102.3 504.7

Treated Rubber wood

0.557 624 59.81 374 101 102.8 680

Applications of Rubber wood:

Various types of applications of rubber wood-

Block Board and Flush Doors Furniture and Cabinet Making Flooring Packing Cases Fiber Boards-Medium Density Fiber Board and Hard Boards Pulp and Paper Bent Wood Articles Wood Carvings Wooden Shuttle Block Laminated Veneer Lumber Veneer and Plywood

Products of Rubber wood:

Flooring Rubber wood furniture Interiors Sports equipments

Bibliography:

From company visit of Sharoda Timber Industries limited.

www.google.com .

Name Of the Company Visited:

Sharoda Timber Industries Limited

Address: Joypur, Namrup

Assam.- 786623.

Interview With: Mr. Dhrubajyoti Sonowal

Visited by: Bandeep Borah, Mrinmoy Rajkhowa

Website: www.sharodawood.com

Group Members:

1) Bandeep Borah (T012)

2) Mrinmoy Rajkhowa (T037)

3) Rajiv Kant Pandey (T0

4) Reshmi Ganguly (T055)

5) Samiul Alam (T061)

6) Supratim Nag (T077)

7) Uttara Kar (T084)

8) Viklesh kumar (T087)