Surface properties of wood in physical and sensory aspects

Summary

This paper deals with the relationships among the physical, anatomical and psychological properties of wood surfaces which play an important role in end-uses. Visual and tactile impressions of wood surfaces are partially governed by the surface profile, and were expressed in terms of roughness values. Sensory warmth of wood surfaces and thermal behavior at the hand/wood interface were measured when the surface was brought into contact with a hand. The warmth is highly correlated to the thermal conductivity of wood and to heat flow rate across the hand/wood interface. Resilience of balls with various rigidities impacting on wood surfaces was investigated in relation to hardness. It is suggested that hardness and resilience are governed by different mechanisms.