The capacity of impregnation of the 'Figueira Branca' (Ficus monckii), with the natural resin of 'Jatobá' tree (Hymenaea courbaril) was investigated in this work. The Figueira Branca is a low density wood from Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The retraction coefficients of the untreated wood were determined and later the resin was prepared for impregnation and the inverse rehearsal of the swelling of the impregnated wood was made. The two coefficients for the impregnated wood and unimpregnated wood were compared by statistical tests of paired samples. The coefficient of swelling of the impregnated wood was significantly smaller than that of retraction of the unimpregnates wood for all directions. Therefore, it was possible to verify that the impregnation of the Figueira Branca, with the natural resin of Jatobá, made it more impermeable, increasing the possibility of its use in the construction of houses or in the furniture industry.
impregnation; humidity; dimensional stability; wood; Ficus monckii
