WOOD PROPERTIES OF NINE ACETYLATED TROPICAL HARDWOODS FROM FAST-GROWTH PLANTATIONS IN COSTA RICA
Abstract
The treatment of acetylation on tropical woods is influenced by their different levels of permeability and how these affect the weight percentage gain (WPG) in acetylated wood. The objective of the current study was to identify the effect of acetylation on the thermal stability, color, physical properties, hygroscopic and dimensional stability, wetting rate, and durability of nine tropical species of woods used for the commercial reforestation in Costa Rica. Study results showed that WPG varied from 2.2% to 16.8%. Positive significant correlations were observed between WPG and pre-exponential factors in TGA analysis and two parameters of dimensional and hygroscopic stability, whereas a negative correlation was observed with water absorption. In species with a WPG of over 10% (Vochysia ferruginea, V. guatemalensis, Cordia alliodora, and Enterolobium cyclocarpum) the thermal stability, wetting rate, hygroscopic stability, and resistance to biological attack showed an increase while swelling, and water absorption decreased. For these species, the best behaviors were obtained with an acetylation time of 2.5 hours and WPG values of over 10%. The same properties of wood in species with a WPG under 5% were found to be less affected by the different acetylation times and showed little difference in relation to untreated wood. Finally, the analysis showed that the dimensional stability obtained was attributed to the reduction of the absorptive capacity of the acetylated wood.
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