Investigation of Bonding Force Element and the Swelling and Shrinkage Behavior of Hydrophobic Compressed Oil Palm Trunk (OTP) Panel

The surfaces with characteristic of water repellent, corrosion resistance and self-cleaning is important to achieve for the commercial application. The uses of hydrophobic on the compressed oil palm trunk (OPT) give opportunity for OPT become the potential product for indoor and outdoor furniture application and paneling by increase the characteristic of OPT surface with variances parameter. In this study, the characteristic and behavior of OPT was determined by investigates the functional groups exist in samples and the bonding force between them using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy that show the similar pattern of hydrophobic OPT and silica nanoparticles. This research also focuses on study the swelling and shrinkage behavior of hydrophobic OPT with uncoated OPT by experimental approach that resulted on average of 20% less water absorption level and 38% reduction of thickness swelling compared to uncoated OPT.