Strength and stiffness of thermally rectified eucalyptus wood under compression

• Published in: Materials research (São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil) no. ahead
• Main Authors: Marcio Rogério da Silva, Gilmara de Oliveira Machado, José Otávio Brito, Carlito Calil Junior
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol) 01-01-2013
• Subjects: chemical composition; compression strength; hardwoods; mechanical properties; thermally treated wood
• ISSN: 1516-1439

The aim of this work was the evaluation of the thermal-rectification process of reforestation wood Corymbia citriodora Hook by measuring of mechanical properties under compression parallel to the grain and also determining of chemical composition. The tested samples were thermally treated in a furnace with nitrogen-atmosphere at heating rate of 0.033 ºC.min-1, at temperatures of 160, 180, 200, 220 and 240 ºC. The chemical components and mechanical properties were affected with the thermal rectification process. The contents ranged from 17.85 to 3.51% extractives, 30.44 to 53.86% lignin, 69.56 to 46.14% holocellulose and 0.31 to 0.47% ashes. The samples strength decreased from 20% to 50% and the elasticity modulus increased about 47%. The characteristic values of strength under compression were determined and these changes were about 23% lower than Brazilian standard. The best mechanical properties of Corymbia citriodora were obtained at 180 ºC.