Propriedades físicas da madeira de Araucaria angustifolia tratada termicamente

Abstract

Heat treatments can be used to enhance the natural resistance and dimensional stability of the wood by changes its chemical constituents. The objective of this study was to determine the physical properties of the wood of Araucaria angustifolia, before and after being heat treated, and analyze the influence of the treatment temperatures, these being 200°C, 220°C and 240°C. Reviews the equilibrium moisture content were performed, the loss of mass, the shrinkage and density by the method of direct measurement of volume by caliper at different temperatures of treated wood. As a result, it was observed that the density was found to be 0.41g/cm³ to 240°C. The hygroscopicity of the parts receiving the heat treatment reduced, and however, the dimensional stability was statisticallyt improved. The difference in weight loss between the highest and lowest temperature treatment was equal to 5.41%. The heat treatment is recommended to reduce the hygroscopic equilibrium moisture content of wood, however there is need for other related to the mechanical properties of this material studies are performed.