Variability compression wood

The properties of thermally modified wood are highly dependent upon the thermal treatment employed, and it is very important to take these into account when comparing the various treatment methods employed. This chapter examines the effect of the process variables upon the properties of thermally modified wood, and then considers the chemistry of thermal modification. Studies of physical changes are discussed, followed by an overview of the biological properties of thermally modified wood. A short description of some recent literature on the use of thermal treatment combined with compression and on hot oil treatments is also included. 

The quality of eucalypt woods for producing chemical pulps was evaluated using NIR spectra and chemometric methods [124]. NIR spectroscopy was used to predict pulp yield and cellulose content from spectra of powdered wood samples [137]. In another application, in addition to estimating lignin content, NIR spectra were used to quantify hardwood-softwood ratios in paperboard [138]. NIR spectra taken from solid European larch samples subjected to axial bending and compression tests revealed an excellent ability to model the variability of mechanical properties [139]. The study demonstrated that the model is based not only on the measurement of density, but also on surface geometry, composition, and, possibly, lignin content. The authors concluded that NIR spectroscopy shows considerable potential to become a tool for nondestructive evaluation of small clear wood specimens, e.g., increment cores. 

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