Author(s):

Heena Gupta, KR Sharma, Chander Lekha and Bhupender Dutt

Abstract: Wood is a hygroscopic material that shrinks and swells to different extents in three anatomical directions. The dimensional changes that accompany the shrinking and swelling of wood are major sources problems in the structural utilization of wood. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to test the potentials of Lantana camara L. methanol leaf extract for the dimensional stability of wood samples of some lesser known wood species viz. Pinus roxburghii Sargent, Celtis austral L., and Bombax ceiba L. of size 5cm x 2.5cm x 2.5cm (longitudinal x radial x tangential) treated at different concentrations viz. 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2.0%. These samples were analysed for swelling and shrinkage in three different planes viz. longitudinal, radial and tangential and the results revealed highest swelling and shrinkage in tangential plane followed by radial plane and longitudinal plane. Pinus roxburghii Sargent wood samples were recorded with the highest swelling and shrinkage in all the three planes. Among the treatments, 1.5% was observed with maximum swelling and 2% concentration with minimum shrinkage. The treated samples exhibited good dimensional stability as compared to untreated samples. Thus, the plant extract offers a great potential in improving the dimensional stability of wood without adversely affecting the environment.

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