WATER REPELLENCY IN TREATED HEVEA-BRASILIENSIS AND MANGIFERA-INDICA WOOD

Samples of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and mango (Mangifera indica) wo od treated with 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% aqueous solution of Chromic aci d were assessed for water repellency and dimensional stability. Signif icant reduction in water absorption in treated samples was observed in initial five hours of soaking in water compared to untreated controls . It was found that effectiveness of water repellency was independent of concentration of solution under repeated cycles of wetting and dryi ng. Degree of water repellency that could be achieved by chromic acid treatment appears to be dependent on constituents of wood.