Physical-mechanical properties and biologicalresistance of thermally modified juvenileHandroanthus chrysotrichuswood

Abstract

Wood in its natural state is susceptible to the attack of xylophagous organisms, oftenrequiring the use of products and techniques that enhance resistance to biological deterioration andincrease the service life of the material. In this context, thermal modification is an environmentallysustainable alternative compared to others that use chemical preservatives. Thus, the objective of thisstudy was to determine the physical-mechanical properties and biological resistance of thermallymodifiedjuvenileHandroanthus chrysotrichuswood. For thispurpose, specimensweremanufactured for the determination of physical and mechanical properties and biological resistance.Besides control samples without thermal modification, four groups of treated specimens wereanalyzed, submitted to thermal modification during four hours in an oven at temperatures of 1 20,1 50, 1 80, and 21 0 ºC. The results showed the effectiveness of the thermal modification for woodpreservation. Biodeterioration was lower with rising temperature; and improved dimensionalstability and increased wood density were observed, although mechanical resistance decreased in thesamples treated at 21 0 ºC. In general, the treatment at 1 80ºC is better suited when considering theinteraction of the studied properties.

Keywords

• ipe wood
• heat-treatment
• technological properties
• biodegradation