Effects of environmental conditions on physical and mechanical properties of thermally modified wood

• Published in: Canadian journal of forest research Vol. 49; no. 11; pp. 1434 - 1440
• Main Authors: Cai, Chenyang, Heräjärvi, Henrik, Haapala, Antti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa NRC Research Press 01.11.2019; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Absorption; Analysis; Brinell hardness tests; Dimensional stability; dureté; Environmental conditions; Environmental effects; Environmental quality; equilibrium moisture content; Evergreen trees; Exposure; Fraxinus excelsior; Hardness; Humidity; Mechanical properties; modification thermique; Moisture absorption; Moisture content; Moisture resistance; Physical properties; Picea abies; Pine trees; Pinus sylvestris; Relative humidity; Shrinkage; stabilité dimensionnelle; Studies; thermal modification; Thermal resistance; Water content; Wood; équilibre hygroscopique; Norway; Finland
• ISSN: 0045-5067; 1208-6037
• DOI: 10.1139/cjfr-2019-0180

The behaviour of industrially modified wood has not been systematically evaluated in controlled exposure conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the equilibrium moisture content (EMC), dimensions, and Brinell hardness of thermally modified wood in different conditions of temperature and relative humidity (RH). Tested materials consisted of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) that were thermally modified according to ThermoWood industrial processes into the classes Thermo-S and Thermo-D. The properties were measured at the following conditions: 20 °C and 65% RH, 10 °C and 90% RH, and 30 °C and 30% RH. The results show that the reduction of EMC and the improvement in dimensional stability are dependent on the degree of thermal modification. Thermal modification was more resistant to moisture absorption at 20 °C and 65% RH than at 10 °C and 90% RH and 30 °C and 30% RH, and the more severe modification decreased the difference among different exposure conditions. The tangential–radial ratio of swelling and shrinkage was higher for thermally modified wood than for nonmodified wood. Brinell hardness of modified Scots pine and Norway spruce did not differ significantly from that of nonmodified wood in normal and dry conditions, but the more humid conditions increased the difference by 12%–17%.