STUDY ON ANATOMICAL FEATURES, PHYSICO - MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF Cinnamomum cassia Blume

Abstract

Cinnamomum cassia Blume is one of the plantation tree species with a high economic value, contributing to protecting nature and the ecological environment, while also contributing to the socio - economic development of many localities. However, Cinnamomum cassia wood has the disadvantage of having a low mechanical and physical properties, susceptible to fungal and insect attacks. Besides, after harvesting, the wood still has a high essential oil content, which has a negative impact on the bonding quality of the adhesive as well as the final wood product's decoration. This article investigated the characteristics of Cinnamomum cassia wood at two harvesting age levels, ie 8-year-old and 13-year-old. The investigation parameters including: Wood structure at macroscopics and microscopic scale, some physico - mechanical properties and main chemical constituents. Research results showed that 13-year-old Cinnamomum cassia wood had better properties than of 8-year-old wood, but the difference is not significant. Both type of Cinnamomum woods reached the material requirement for the production of fingerjoint boards. However, the amount of essential oil contained in wood is still relatively (0.15%), so further research to remove this amount of essential oil is necessary.