Abstract
The subject matter of the article is thermally modified tropical wood (Meranti and Merbau) and its reaction on fire. Thermal treatment of wood (thermal wood) is a new technology of wood treatment improving its physical and biological properties and increasing its resistance to biological wood destroying processes and atmospheric effects. The fire and technical properties of thermal wood, especially its reaction to fire, have not been studied sufficiently. The latter is the subject matter of this article. A comparison is made to describe the influence of process temperatures of the thermal modification of selected tropical woody plants. Experimental equipment was non-standardized laboratory equipment using a flame source of higher intensity (flame burner - propane-butane) affecting the test sample in an open environment. This is a simulation of an actual fire. The performance of the thermally treated wood (20 °C, 160 °C, 180 °C) is evaluated by measuring the weight loss and the burning rate. The results are presented in tables and diagrams and are statistically evaluated. This study investigated the effects of the thermal treatment of Merbau and Meranti wood on selected burning characteristics. The results obtained from raw (untreated) wood test specimens were compared to results obtained from the test specimens subjected to thermal treatment at 160 °C, 180 °C and 210 °C. The monitored characteristics were weight loss and the burn rate. The results showed that the thermal treatment of Merbau and Meranti wood significantly increased its flammability and accelerated its combustion. In addition, its burn rate was higher than in untreated wood, reflecting that it is necessary to add fire retardants to thermally treated Merbau and Meranti wood.
Highlights
Wood is used in many areas, e.g. as a construction and cladding material
Modified Meranti and Merbau woods have greater weight losses in open flame burning than woods that were untreated
It is clear from those results that thermally treated Meranti and Merbau woods, at all temperatures, have higher burn rates than untreated Meranti and Merbau woods
Summary
Wood is used in many areas, e.g. as a construction and cladding material. It has the good weight-to-load capacity ratio and it is possible to carry out wooden constructions in different areas. The interest in thermally modified wood has significantly increased lately. This interest has arisen due to reduced production of wood as durable material, increased interest in durable construction material and legislative changes, which restrict the use of toxic substances. The process temperatures range between 160 and 260 °C and the differences between various modifications are represented by using the gas environment (nitrogen, steam), oils, different humidity levels and so on. Wood treated in such a way has better properties when used in exteriors, as well as interiors, e.g. dimensional stability, durability, color change and so on [3], [4].
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