Aspects of machining and finishing of thermally treated wood

• Grant number: 07/00439-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2007
• End date: December 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Technology and Use of Forest Products
• Principal Investigator: José Otávio Brito
• Grantee: José Otávio Brito
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The thermal treatment of wood (or thermal rectification) is an alternative process to add value to wood. The thermally treated wood acquires colors similar to those observed in tropical woods, better resistance to fungi and weathering, high dimensional stability and low higroscopicity. This material is, therefore, suitable for outdoor and indoor-wet uses that do not involve high mechanical stresses. Nowadays, however, little information is available on the effect of thermal treatment on the machining and finishing aspects of treated wood. In this work, relatively low-valued woods (Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis) will undergo a variety of thermal rectification treatments. The thermal treated wood will be assessed for machining and finishing aspects, as planing, sanding, varnishing etc. (AU)