Properties of thermally modified teakwood

Thermal modification is a treatment that seeks to improve the properties of wood and reduce the heterogeneity in its color. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of thermal treatment on the anatomical, chemical, physical, mechanical, colorimetric, and thermal stability properties of teakwood. For this, teakwood samples were treated by an industrial autoclave at final cycle temperature of 160 ºC. The reduction of cell wall thickness, the formation of cross-fissures and the crystallization of the wax inside the pores were observed in the anatomical structure. Chemically, the extractives evaporated and the polysaccharides ruptured, of which hemicellulose was the most affected. The heat treatment promoted lower equilibrium moisture, reducing the hygroscopicity and improving the dimensional stability of the wood. Considering the mechanical properties, the rupture modulus and the longitudinal and tangential hardness decreased after the heat treatment. The color of the wood changed significantly, from pink to dark brown. The treated wood had higher thermal stability, with greater weight loss at higher temperatures than the untreated wood