Open AccessWood modification by heat treatment: A review
Author(s) -
Bruno Esteves,
Helena M. Pereira
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
bioresources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1930-2126
DOI - 10.15376/biores.4.1.esteves
Subject(s) - materials science , wetting , moisture , equilibrium moisture content , green wood , durability , pulp and paper industry , process engineering , composite material , wood drying , environmental science , engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , sorption , adsorption
Wood heat treatment has increased significantly in the last few years and is still growing as an industrial process to improve some wood properties. The first studies on heat treatment investigated mainly equilibrium moisture, dimensional stability, durability and mechanical properties. Mass loss, wettability, wood color, and chemical transformations have been subsequently extensively studied, while recent works focus on quality control, modeling, and study the reasons for the improvements. This review explains the recent interest on the heat treatment of wood and synthesizes the major publications on this subject on wood properties, chemical changes, wood uses, and quality control.