Heat Treatment of Wood Hygroscopicity and Dimensional Stability

Three kinds of woods of Populus tomentosa,Picea asperata and Pinus sylvestris were used as materials to studey their hygroscopicity and dimensional stability by steam treatment method.The moisture absorption rate of the wood of P.tomentosa decreased by 28.8 % to 41.9 %,tangential expansion rate by moisture absorption decreased by 20.9 % to 51.7 %.The moisture absorption rate of the wood of Picea asperata decreased by 19.5 % to 31.4 %,tangential expansion rate by moisture absorption decreased by 22.2 % to 50.8 %.The moisture absorption rate of P.sylvestris decreased of by 27.7 % to 34.4 %,and the tangential expansion rate by moisture absorption decreased by 22.8 % to 50.0 %.It was concluded that heat treatment could significantly reduce the wood moisture,while improving the dimensional stability.