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Compression of wood under saturated steam, superheated steam, and transient conditions at 150°C, 160°C, and 170°C

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Abstract

In this paper, the compressive deformation of hybrid poplar wood (Populus deltoides × Populus trichocarpa) at high temperature (150, 160, and 170°C) and under various conditions of steam pressure was studied. Temperature and conditions of steam environment affected the relative density change and creep deformation during compression, as well as properties of the resulting densified material. While the temperature significantly affected the compression deformation of specimens compressed under transient and superheated steam conditions, temperature within the range studied had little effect on the compressive deformation in saturated steam. In all tested conditions, compression deformation was achieved without cell wall fractures. Higher temperature of compression, regardless of steam condition, resulted in lower equilibrium moisture content. In specimens compressed under saturated steam, the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were increased proportionally to the increase in density, while the compression under superheated steam produced lower increase in the MOE and MOR than expected based on the increase in density. Compression in transient steam conditions at 170°C produced densified wood with higher MOE and MOR than expected based on the increase in density.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by the National Research Initiative of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, grant number 2006-35504-17444 and USDA Wood Utilization Research Center Special Grant number 2008-34158-19302.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Primorska Institute for Natural Sciences and Technology, University of Primorska, Muzejski trg 2, 6000, Koper, Slovenia

    Andreja Kutnar

  2. Department of Wood Science and Engineering, Oregon State University, 119 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Andreja Kutnar & Frederick A. Kamke

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  1. Andreja Kutnar
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  2. Frederick A. Kamke
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Correspondence to Andreja Kutnar.

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Kutnar, A., Kamke, F.A. Compression of wood under saturated steam, superheated steam, and transient conditions at 150°C, 160°C, and 170°C. Wood Sci Technol 46, 73–88 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0380-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0380-0

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