THE EFFECTS OF HEAT TREATMENT ON THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WHITE AFARA WOOD (TERMINALIA SUPERBA)

Abstract

The heat treatment of wood is an environmental friendly method for wood preservation. This process improves wood resistance to decay and its dimensional stability. In this study, the physical properties of White Afara wood( Terminalia superb) such as density, moisture content and shrinkage were investigated as well as mechanical property such as compression strength. Woods specimen that had been conditioned at 65% relative humility and 20 ± 2ºC temperature were subjected to heat treatment at ( 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160)ºC. Thereafter, at an optimum temperature 1200C, the duration of heat treatment was varied for 2,4,6 and 8 hours for each specimen. In the course of this experiment, at 1400C and 1600C split along the grain of the wood specimen were observed, the colour of the wood becomes more darker and the wood becomes more brittle as temperature increases. Hence, the choice of 1200C optimum temperature at 6 hours duration. The flash point of the experiment was determined at 1800C. Due to its good weather resistance, White Afara wood when heat treated at1200C optimum temperature is best suitable for outdoor applications such as external cladding, window frames and garden furniture.