Combustion Properties of Impregnated and Heat-Treated Wood Material

Abstract

The use of heat-treated wood material and eco-friendly impregnation chemicals are steadily increasing in the woodworking industry over the last decades. In this study, the effects of applications of impregnation and heat treatment on combustion properties of Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) wood were investigated. The test specimens were impregnated with Imersol-aqua (Ia) and Timbercare-aqua (Ta) impregnation material according to ASTM D 1413-76 standards. Impregnated specimens were subjected to heat treatment at 150, 170 and 190 °C for 2 h. The temperature of flame source combustion, the temperature of without flame source combustion and varying light intensities (Lux) depending on the smoke production in these combustion stages were determined according to ASTM E 160-50. According to the test results, the highest combustion temperature of flame source combustion was determined in unimpregnated and heat-treated samples at 190 °C, while the highest combustion temperature of without flame source combustion was determined in impregnated with Ta and heat-treated samples at 170 °C. The highest light density in flame source combustion phase was determined in unimpregnated and heat-treated samples at 190°C, while in without flame source combustion was in unimpregnated and heat-treated samples at 170°C. As a result, as the heat treatment temperature increase, the combustion temperature increased and the smoke density decreased. In addition to impregnation materials increased the smoke density while reduced the combustion temperatures of test specimens.