Effects of Compression Ratio and Phenolic Resin Concentration on the Properties of Laminated Compreg Inner Oil Palm and Sesenduk Wood Composites

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This pape has positive significance on sustainable utilization of oil palm in you country, but the presentation of this paper must be improved. See comments and suggestions attached.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

This paper has positive significance on sustainable application of oil palm in their country. However, the presentation of the manuscript must be improved, which i have marked in the text.

ü Thank you very much for your comments, the paper has been revised accordingly.

 

In the abstract, the results must be stated clearly with data. For example, you mean that the Phenolic treated had significantly improved the mechanical properties of OPW, show the ratios or percentage.

ü Thank you very much for your comments, the abstract has been revised accordingly with more supporting data. 

 

Latin name of oil palm

ü Latin name of oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, has been added.

 

What does inner wood refer? In addition, the dimensional stability and also the effect of compression ratio.

ü Inner oil palm wood (OPW) refers to the OPW that extracted from the inner layer of the oil palm trunk. The sentence has been revised.

 

Fully spell BS standard

ü  British Standards (BS) 373: 1957 has been fully spelled.

 

Latin name of sesenduk

ü Latin name of sesenduk, Endospermum diadenum, has been added.

 

Refer to this one, which has high relation with this topic. DOI: 10.4067/S0718-221X2022000100417

ü Thank you very much for your suggestion, this reference has been added: “Hu, W. G., & Wan, H. (2022). Comparative study on weathering durability property of phenol formaldehyde resin modified sweetgum and southern pine specimens. Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología, 24. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0718-221x2022000100417”

 

In this sub section, it is suggested that using a diagram to show how did you cut OPW, and position of inner part. Meanwhile, use a table to show the specific information of PF resin used.

ü A diagram on how is the inner wood were extracted has been added (Figure 1). The properties of the PF used was also listed in Table 1.

 

This MC is too high to influence the PF impregnation.

üYes, it is, thank you very much for pointing it out. We missed one step in the methodology: “Prior to impregnation treatment, the air dried OPW samples were further dried in an oven to achieve MC of around 15-20%.”

 

Also suggested you referring to DOI: 10.4067/S0718-221X2022000100417

ü Thank you very much for your suggestion, this reference has been added: “Hu, W. G., & Wan, H. (2022). Comparative study on weathering durability property of phenol formaldehyde resin modified sweetgum and southern pine specimens. Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología, 24. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0718-221x2022000100417”

 

It seems that the equations' number are wrong.

ü Thank you very much for pointing out, the equations’ number has been revised.

 

The length of sample it too short referring to the standard. Usually, 300 mm is a adequate.

ü Yes, you are correct, the length of the samples were 15 times the thickness of the samples (20 mm), so it should be 300 mm + 50 mm overhanging which is 350 mm in length. 

 

Indicate version, and other information commonly needed.

ü Version of SPSS used was added as well as other information.  

 

It is recommended that using a table to replace the Fig. 2 and 3 and 4, because it will make paper concise, meanwhile, you marked the significant, so table is more suitable to show these data.

ü Thank you very much for your suggestion, we agreed and has changed the mentioned Figures into Tables. Please see Table 3.

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors,

This is one of the most comprehensive manuscripts I have read the last few months! Congratulations on your option to pick such interesting topics with low-quality products thar are aiming to improve the characteristics of the final composited. Please find below some answers to your questions: 1. What is the main question addressed by the research? This study is investigating the use of a "so-called" waste product (Oil Palm Trunk – OPT). Due to its nature, the mechanical properties are poor. However, the proposed treatment suggested by the researchers’ using resins, improved the composite’s characteristics adding value to a “waste product” demonstrating options towards exploiting such low-quality wood species. 2. Do you consider the topic original or relevant in the field? Does it address a specific gap in the field? Yes, the topic is original, and it adds value in the field of exploiting by-products or low-quality products within the agro-waste chain. 3. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published material? Using existing resources with sophisticated treatment options with the aim to create new composites or / and upscale existing ones giving value to the material as well as to the local forests. 4. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the methodology? What further controls should be considered? The methodology is robust and appropriate, having considered all the necessary steps (dimensional stability evaluation, production of composites with different layers (untreated & treated wood). A mechanical properties evaluation and finally a statistical analysis (using ANOVA and the SPSS) completed the methodology and the experimental part of this research. There are no steps that are missing or improvements that should be considered based on the specific experimental approach. 5. Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented and do they address the main question posed? The conclusions are sufficient and demonstrate how the properties of the laminated composites (physical and mechanical) have been enhanced after the treatment with PF resin. Also, the different compression ratios resulted in better properties. It also points out the future steps to optimise the modification parameters and increase the performance of the composites. 6. Are the references appropriate? Most of the references are very recent, (within the last four years) and state with details all the relevant research that has been undertaken. 7. Please include any additional comments on the tables and figures. In the Results chapter, all Figures and Tables clearly present the findings. Especially the property’s table for the laminated compreg composites is very clear and simple stating all the adequate information. Should you need any additional information, I would be more than happy to assist you.

Author Response

This is one of the most comprehensive manuscripts I have read the last few months! Congratulations on your option to pick such interesting topics with low-quality products thar are aiming to improve the characteristics of the final composited.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments.  

 

 

Please find below some answers to your questions:

1. What is the main question addressed by the research?

This study is investigating the use of a "so-called" waste product (Oil Palm Trunk – OPT). Due to its nature, the mechanical properties are poor. However, the proposed treatment suggested by the researchers’ using resins, improved the composite’s characteristics adding value to a “waste product” demonstrating options towards exploiting such low-quality wood species.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments. The objective of the study was to exploiting low-quality wood species.

 

 

2. Do you consider the topic original or relevant in the field? Does it address a specific gap in the field?

Yes, the topic is original, and it adds value in the field of exploiting by-products or low-quality products within the agro-waste chain.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments. We aim to maximize the use of inner oil palm wood that are regarded as waste.

 

3. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published material?

Using existing resources with sophisticated treatment options with the aim to create new composites or / and upscale existing ones giving value to the material as well as to the local forests.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments. PF is a effective treatment to enhance the properties of inner OPW.

 

4. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the methodology? What further controls should be considered?

The methodology is robust and appropriate, having considered all the necessary steps (dimensional stability evaluation, production of composites with different layers (untreated & treated wood). A mechanical properties evaluation and finally a statistical analysis (using ANOVA and the SPSS) completed the methodology and the experimental part of this research. There are no steps that are missing or improvements that should be considered based on the specific experimental approach.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments. We tried our best to describe the methodology in a very detailed manner.

 

5. Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented and do they address the main question posed?

The conclusions are sufficient and demonstrate how the properties of the laminated composites (physical and mechanical) have been enhanced after the treatment with PF resin. Also, the different compression ratios resulted in better properties. It also points out the future steps to optimise the modification parameters and increase the performance of the composites.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments. Future directions has been pointed out.

 

6. Are the references appropriate?

Most of the references are very recent, (within the last four years) and state with details all the relevant research that has been undertaken.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments.  

 

7. Please include any additional comments on the tables and figures.

In the Results chapter, all Figures and Tables clearly present the findings. Especially the property’s table for the laminated compreg composites is very clear and simple stating all the adequate information. Should you need any additional information, I would be more than happy to assist you.

ü Thank you very much for your kind comments. Some figures have been replaced with tables to better reflect the correlation between properties.  

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors

The paper has been much improved. I recommend that it can be accpeted for publishing.