Analysis of the treatability, water repellency efficiency, and dimensional stability of maritime pine after microwave drying

• Published in: Bioresources Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 4292 - 4312
• Main Authors: Mascarenhas, Fernando Júnior Resende, Dias, Alfredo Manuel Pereira Geraldes, Christoforo, André Luis, Simões, Rogério Manuel dos Santos, Cunha, André Eduardo Palos, Carneiro, Lucas Cardoso Pereira, Dias, André Manuel Alves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Raleigh North Carolina State University 01.08.2024
• Subjects: anti-swelling efficiency; Biological products; Construction industry; Dimensional analysis; Dimensional stability; Drying; Drying ovens; Efficiency; Energy; Hydrophobicity; impregnability; maritime pine; Mechanical properties; microwave drying; Permeability; Pine; Pine trees; Pinus pinaster; Preservatives; Radiation; Repellency; Samples; Statistical analysis; Swelling; Timber; Water; water repellence efficiency; Wood; Wood products; Portugal
• ISSN: 1930-2126; 1930-2126
• DOI: 10.15376/biores.19.3.4292-4312

The impregnability of Portuguese maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) subjected to microwave (MW) drying was tested, and the hydrophobicity, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), and water repellence efficiency (WRE) were evaluated. Small wood heartwood samples of Portuguese maritime pine and two distinct MW treatment settings were employed. The levels of ASE and WRE of the wood elements were evaluated throughout four cycles of drying in an oven and soaking in water. Because of MW applied energy, the wood pine samples were satisfactorily impregnated with the preservative product. Regarding the absolutely dry densities of the samples, very subtle reductions were measured, and they were statistically equivalent to the average density of the non-MW-treated group. Slight improvements were identified in the WRE values of wood samples dried in the microwave. In terms of ASE, both MW-treated groups had a statistically significant increase. The MW treatment decreased the volumetric swelling of the maritime pine wood specimens. Hence, this study raises new insights and previously unexplored paths that can contribute to the expansion and greater application of MW technology in maritime pine and other species.