Wood modification research at the University of Sopron

Abstract

This overview presents the research fields of the Institute of Wood Science at the University of Sopron (Hungary) in the first two decades of the third millennium. The classic wood research topics such as physical, mechanical and anatomical examinations of untreated wood species are one of the major fields of the studies conducted. The other major part is the topic of this paper, i.e. the study of different wood modification processes. There are many possibilities in wood science to improve the properties of wood and, as a result, to improve its usability. Various heat treatments were performed in gaseous atmosphere for more than ten softwood and hardwood species, as well as heat treatment in different fluids. The latter includes the treatment in vegetable oils, paraffin and beeswax to improve the resistance and dimensional stability of wood. Within the mechanical wood modification the densification of poplar resulted in a great increase of its hardness to make this common wood available in more fields of wood industry. The longitudinal compression of hardwoods results in obtaining a flexible material that extends the usability of wood. As a chemical treatment, acetylation provides a good protection against wood-destroying organisms, a high increase in dimensional stability and a long life span. The impregnation of wood with different nanoparticles has successfully in improved its durability. In summary, this paper demonstrates several processes from mechanical wood modifications through heat treatments to chemical modification methods.

Keywords

• acetylation
• beeswax
• densification
• heat treatment
• impregnation
• longitudinal wood compression
• nanomaterials
• oil
• paraffin
• pleating