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Changes in the microstructure of birch wood after hydrothermal treatment

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Abstract

Birch wood (Betula pendula) samples were treated in a thermal regime (140, 160, 180 °C) for 1 h and investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM microimages of the wood cross-section were taken from one and the same place before and after the thermal treatment (magnification 100–2,000×). The results of measurements of areas and linear sizes of the birch wood cells show significant changes, which depend on the thermal treatment conditions and the type of the cell: libriform, tracheid, vessel and ray. After the treatment at 180 °C, the integrity of wood morphological structure begins to break up. Voids and cracks are formed between fibres, thus leading to a decline in the mechanical properties of the wood.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the European Regional Development Fund project “Innovative wood and its processing materials with upgraded service properties” Nr. 2010/0324 2DP/2.1.1.1.0/10/APIA/VIAA/057.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes str., Riga, 1006, Latvia

    Vladimirs Biziks, Bruno Andersons, Ļubova Beļkova & Elīna Kapača

  2. Wood Biology and Wood Products, Burckhardt-Institute, Georg-August University, Büsgenweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Holger Militz

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  1. Vladimirs Biziks
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  2. Bruno Andersons
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  3. Ļubova Beļkova
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  4. Elīna Kapača
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  5. Holger Militz
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Correspondence to Vladimirs Biziks.

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Biziks, V., Andersons, B., Beļkova, Ļ. et al. Changes in the microstructure of birch wood after hydrothermal treatment. Wood Sci Technol 47, 717–735 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-013-0531-1

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