Influência dos tratamentos termomecânicos na madeira

Abstract

Thermomechanical treatments seek to increase the wood density, throught of the temperature and pressure combination, which results in a material with improved physical and mechanical properties. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the influence of thermomechanical treatments in Pinus elliottii Engelm and Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden wood. So, were prepared from five trees of each species, wood pieces that have been submitted to six different thermomechanical treatments. For this purpose, we used a laboratory oil bath to perform preheating of wood and a hydraulic press with the temperatures of the dishes ranging from 150 to 190°C. Compression time used was between 30 and 60 min. After, physical (compression rate, weight loss, equilibrium moisture content, density, dimensional stability and hygroscopicity), mechanical (static bending, dynamic bending and Janka hardness), surface (colorimetry and roughness) and infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) tests were performed. For statistical analysis, we used qualitative factorial 3 x 2, with three temperature levels and two compression time and Tukey test. Furthermore, it was performed to compare the treatments with the control. The main results for the technological properties showed that the degree of compression and mass loss increased with the temperature increase. The equilibrium moisture content decreased and the density obtained increases. For the dimensional stability was observed that there was a reduction of the effect of the return densified wood, and hygroscopicity was increased in both wood species. The mechanical properties showed increases with the densification, except for the Janka hardness and dynamic flexion in E. grandis wood treated with high temperatures. Infrared spectroscopy showed degradation of the amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose, providing a proportional increase of crystalline cellulose and lignin. The color of the densified wood was changed presenting surface browning, measured by decrease in brightness L* parameter. Roughness was reduced, making the surface softer wood. Before the alterations, it is indicated using thermomechanical treatment with temperature of 150°C and the compression time of 60 min. In this respect, it is recommended the use of densified wood floors and coatings, even for softwoods (conifers).