Effect of changes in surface visual properties of heat-treated wood on the psychological preference

• Published in: Bioresources Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 4652 - 4669
• Main Authors: Zhang, Y, Guo, Y, Wei, P, He, Z, Yi, S., Zhao, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Raleigh North Carolina State University 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Accuracy; Aesthetics; Color; Consumers; Cost analysis; Cunninghamia lanceolata; Eye movements; eye-tracking; grain contrast; Heat treating; Heat treatment; Heat treatments; heat-treated wood; Knots; Physiology; preference; Preferences; Product design; Psychological assessment; Psychology; Technology assessment; Tracking; Visual effects; Visual perception; China
• ISSN: 1930-2126
• DOI: 10.15376/biores.19.3.4652-4669

Heat treatment of wood is an attractive, environmentally friendly modification, which can change surface visual properties of wood including color and grain, but it is unclear how heat-treated wood is perceived and evaluated compared with untreated wood. In this paper, Chinese fir was heat-treated at 160, 180, 200, or 220 °C for 2 or 4 h. The changes of wood surface color and grain contrast were measured. A subjective questionnaire and eye-tracking technology were used for psychological evaluation. The results showed that changes in the visual properties of heat-treated wood had a significant effect on psychological preference—heat-treated wood was generally more preferred than the untreated, particularly at 200 °C for 4 h. Grain contrast and hue played an important role in the preference for heat-treated wood. The preference gave people the positive psychological impression of warmth, weight, cost, prevalence, and comfort. Eye-tracking analysis showed that Chinese fir heat-treated at about 200 °C with high hue value and clear grain contrast was easier to gain more visual attention. The results would have a high technical reference value for the heat-treated wood in product visual design.