IPB University Lecturer Develops Magnetic Wood as an Environmentally Friendly Innovation from Industrial Waste

As a university known for its excellence in biodiversity-based research, IPB University has demonstrated its capabilities through environmentally friendly functional material innovations, one of which is magnetic wood.

Dr Istie Sekartining Rahayu, the innovator and lecturer at the Department of Forest Products at IPB University, explained that magnetic wood is a material modified from wood that originally did not have magnetic properties, but after undergoing certain treatments, it can be attracted by magnets.

“We modify wood with magnetic materials in the form of powder or fluid. The process can be done by coating, mixing wood powder with magnetic powder, or impregnating wood with a magnetic solution,” she said.

She added, “In this study, we used a spraygun coating method and impregnation with a solution containing nanomagnetite.”

According to Dr Istie, this material is categorized as innovative because it adds new functions to wood and is environmentally friendly because the raw material comes from small wood industry waste. In addition, the process of making nanomagnetite uses a coprecipitation method, which is also environmentally friendly.

Interestingly, magnetic wood has the ability to absorb electromagnetic waves emitted by televisions, cell phones, tablets, and laptops — considering that electromagnetic waves can have physiological and psychological effects on humans. The physiological effects can cause disturbances in human organs, while the psychological effects can cause stress.

In its development, Dr Istie and her team have utilized magnetic wood to create a magnetic stand holder for mobile phones. This product functions to absorb electromagnetic waves, especially during charging.

“The main challenges to mass production are distribution licensing and product diversification so that it can be used for other devices such as laptops or cell phone cases,” she added.

This research also received support from the IPB University Science Technopark Agency (LKST) together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the PRIMESTeP program with the A-Industry Cooperation Scheme. Through this program, magnetic wood innovation is facilitated into ready to use products in collaboration with industry partner Hudricore.

With great potential in the creative industry, such as educational toys, magnetic wood decorations, stand holders, and furniture elements, this magnetic wood innovation is concrete evidence of IPB University’s commitment to optimizing the potential of Indonesia’s natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Through continuous research, IPB University continues to affirm its role as a Biodiversity Campus capable of generating environmentally friendly solutions from tropical natural resources. (Ez) (IAAS/NVA)