Properties of Thermally Modified Woods by a Brazilian Process

Abstract

Thermal modification processes are strategies used to improve the properties of wood with an environmental liability when no chemicals are used. The Vap HolzSysteme®, developed in Brazil, promotes a thermal modification in wood when using an atmosphere saturated with water vapor thus ensuring a low oxygen content in the pressure system. To evaluate this process, samples of Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus grandis woods were treated in an industrial autoclave at a final cycle temperature of 160 °C. Consequently, the anatomical characteristics were maintained; however, equilibrium moisture, basic density, chemical composition, and mechanical properties were modified. Some modifications were different considering the wood species, mainly in their mechanical properties.

Keywords

• <i>Pinus taeda</i>
• <i>Eucalyptus grandis</i>
• wood modification