EFFECT OF WOOD GRAIN AND VENEER SIDE ON LOBLOLLY-PINE VENEER WETTABILITY

Research was initiated to determine the effect of veneer side (tight o r loose), and wood grain (earlywood or latewood) on the wettability of loblolly pine veneer. Contact angle measurements were performed with phenol-formaldehyde resin and distilled water. The resin and distilled water showed slightly higher contact angle mean values on the latewoo d portion for both the tight side and loose side. The distilled water showed lower contact angle mean values on the loose side compared to t he corresponding resin values on the loose side. This difference is la rgely attributable to the differences in the surface tension of these two wetting materials, and the ability of the distilled water to more easily penetrate on the loose side of veneer.