DECAY RESISTANCE, PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL, AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF HEATED ORIENTAL BEECH WOOD

Abstract

Heat treatment of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) wood was carried out by hot air in an oven for 2, 6, and 10 h at 125, 155, and 185 degrees C. After heat treatment; decay resistance, oven dry density, modulus of rupture (MOR), compression strength parallel to grain (CSPG), and thermal characteristics of Oriental beech wood were investigated. Our results showed that heat treatment caused a decrease in oven dry density values of Oriental beech wood specimens. Heat treatment improved decay resistance of Oriental beech wood. Moreover, higher temperature and durations resulted in lower mass loss of wood after decay test. MOR values of heated Oriental beech decreased with increasing temperature and durations. CSPG values of Oriental beech decreased after heat treatments except for 2 and 6 hours heating at 125 degrees C. According to the thermal analysis results, thermal properties of heated Oriental beech wood were preserved except for heated Oriental beech wood at 185 degrees C for 6 and 10 hours.