Effects of semi-isostatic densification of wood on the variation in strength properties with density

Abstract

The variation in strength properties with density was compared between semi-isostatically densified and non-densified wood. Strength properties were compared with published data from earlier studies using other methods for densification. Small clear specimens of eight species were analysed for compression strength in axial, radial and tangential direction, three-point bending and Brinell hardness. After densification, all tested strength properties increased with density, but especially strength perpendicular to grain became lower than expected from the density of non-densified wood. Strength of densified wood relative to what could be expected for non-densified wood of similar density was denoted as ‘strength potential index’. For axial compression strength and bending strength, strength potential index of individual wood species varied between 0.7 and 1.0, i.e. densified wood is slightly weaker than what could be expected from its density. Strength potential index was lower for properties much determined by strength perpendicular to grain. In radial direction, densified wood was rubbery with low modulus of elasticity and nearly no proportional limit or modulus of rupture. Generally, wood was apparently weakened in proportion to the degree of compression in respective direction. Strength potential index also increased with increasing original density of the species.