Changes of water related properties in radiata pine wood due to heat treatment

Abstract

Abstract Wood is a green and renewable building material, however, the hygroscopicity restrict its use in the field of construction and building. To study the effect of heat treatment (HT) on wood hygroscopicity and other water related properties, radiata pine wood was subjected to HT at four temperature levels of 185, 200, 215 and 230\u202f°C, for the duration of 4\u202fh. Overall, the equilibrium moisture content, moisture adsorption, water absorption and volume swelling ratio were all decreased, while hygroscopic hysteresis was enhanced with increasing HT temperature. The surface wettability was clearly weakened after HT, reflected as the increased contact angle and reduced surface free energy.