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 MATERIAL
The 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 & FLAKING

The 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 & SCREENING

The 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 & BLENDING

The surface and core particles are separately mixed with glue, wax emulsion and other additives metered
accurately to achieve quality of high standard.

MAT FORMING
The resonated particles are spread by air and mechanical forming, incorporated by Computerized
Programmable Control System, ensuring consistent mat density and uniform weight distribution.
HOT PRESSING
The Hot Press which operates automatically on Programmable Logic Control compresses the mat under
high pressure and controlled temperature to form boards to precise thickness.

COOLING
The 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.

SIZING
The 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.

SANDING
The 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.

LAMINATING
The 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 Weight Tensile Compressive Compressive stress, Shear Hard
gravity Kg/cu. m* stress, stress, parallel to perpendicular to strength, ness
parallel to grain, Kg/cm^2 grain, Kg/cm^2 parallel to
grain, grain,
Kg/cm^2 Kg/cm^2

Teak 0.604 676 62 532 101 102.3 504.

wood 7

Treated 0.557 624 59.81 374 101 102.8 680

Rubber
wood

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)

     