Congratulations to Associate Professor Dr. Nirundorn Matan for receiving the “Second Edition Patent from Walailak University” on the topic of “Improving the Durability of Para Rubber Wood by Boiling in Hot Water under Pressure”

The School of Engineering and Technology, Walailak University, extends its congratulations to Associate Professor Dr. Nirundorn Matan, who is a faculty member in the Petrochemical and Polymer Engineering Department and serves as the head of the Center of Excellence for Wood and Biomaterials, along with Mr. Taweesin Wongpradit, a scientist from the Center of Scientific and Technological Instrumentation. Their work on “Improving the Durability of Para Rubber Wood by Boiling in Hot Water under Pressure” has been granted a patent by the Department of Intellectual Property on October 2, 2023. This patent marks the second edition for Associate Professor Dr. Nirundorn Matan and for Walailak University.
The research on “Improving the Durability of Para Rubber Wood by Boiling in Hot Water under Pressure” aims to enhance the wood’s durability against fungal decay and insects. The method involves boiling para rubber wood in water under pressure, creating a saturated state of water within the wood. This is achieved by compressing water into the wood until it reaches saturation, then heating the water within the pressurized container using steam to raise its temperature between 140 – 160 degrees Celsius. This temperature is maintained for a duration ranging from 30 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the boiling temperature and wood thickness. Throughout the heating process, the water pressure in the container must remain constant and sufficiently high to keep the water in a liquid state. Subsequently, the temperature and pressure are gradually reduced to prevent wood cracking as the pressure is released. Once the pressure is completely released, the wood is taken out of the container for further moisture conditioning through a wood processing procedure.