The Effect of Heat Modification and Densification on Physical Properties of Poplar Wood

In this study, density, volumetric swelling, mass loss, volume weight, fi ber saturation point and water absorption of the poplar wood (Populus usbekistanica) were investigated with the effect of heat modifi cation (HM) and heat-modifi ed densifi cation (HMD). Poplar samples were modifi ed with steam at 120 °C, 160 °C and 200 °C for 1 and 3 h. After heat modifi cation, the samples were compressed in hot press at a temperature of 120 °C, press pressure of 5 MPa and press time of 30 minutes for densifi cation. Physical properties of the samples were determined according to Turkish standards. The results showed that heat modifi cation affected densifi cation and increased density. Densifi cation had a positive effect on oven dry density (D0), oven dry density after soaking (D0S), volume weight (R) and fi ber saturation point (FSP), except for volumetric swelling. Similarly, the densifi cation process had an increasing effect on the water absorption, excluding 360 hours.