Vacuum pressure treatment of water-soluble melamine resin impregnation for improvement of mechanical property, abrasion resistance and incombustibility on softwood

In this study, three softwood species were treated with water-soluble melamine resin by different concentration and treatment time under vacuum pressure for improving mechanical property, abrasion resistance, and incombustibility. After the treatment, a compreg was manufactured and then evaluated on physical properties. Additionally, incombustibility of compreg was determined by comparing with a wood that was treated by spraying a water-soluble fire retardant on surface. As concentration of resin increased, bending strength and Brinell hardness increased as well as abrasion resistance, but there was no correlation on treatment and mechanical properties by treatment time. The wood impregnated by water-soluble melamine resin under vacuum pressure showed better incombustibility than that of a water-soluble fire retardant sprayed wood. Therefore, this treatment could be used for improving incombustibility of wood.