Density profile and hardness of thermo-mechanically modified beech, oak and pine wood

Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), oak (Quercus robur L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood were volume-densified by means of thermo-mechanical modification. At first stage the wood was heated in a hydraulic press at temperature 100°C for 720 s, and then one-step densified in order to obtain the target thickness. The wood was cooled in a hydraulic press with unheated plates. Density profiles parallel and perpendicular to the grain were examined. The analysis of the density profiles was carried out on the basis of the following parameters: mean density, minimum to mean density ratio, maximum density, and the distance between the maximum density area and the wood surface. Wood hardness was determined according to the Brinell method. Volume-densified pine wood was characterized by considerably lower susceptibility to densification than beech or oak wood. Densified beech wood had the highest mean density 921 ±7 kg/m³, and the highest maximum density 968 ±12 kg/m³. The Brinell hardness of densified beech, oak and pine wood was twice as high as before the densification. The greatest hardness after the densification 78.60 ±10.56 N/mm² was observed in beech wood.