Performance Comparison of Four-year-old Trees of Two Short-rotation Species Modified by High Temperature Thermal Process For Producing Furniture Artifacts

Abstract

Four-year-old trees of two fast growing species, namely Corymbia citriodora (V1) and Eucalyptus hybrid (E. camaldulensis* E. urophylla) (V2) were subjected to high temperature thermal processing technique for improving certain wood quality parameters. Although, these species are generally grown for pulpwood production, value-added solid wood applications in furniture and other lifestyle artifacts can be produced after modifying the wood by eco-friendly thermal treatments. Small billets from bottom portion (2 meters) of the trees were converted into wooden planks which were subjected to heat treatment at 175±5°C for a fixed duration of 4 hours underpartial vacuum condition. Effect of he at treatment on physical and mechanical properties such as equilibrium moisture content (EMC), density, water absorption (WA), shrinkage, flexural strength (modulus of rupture-MOR) andstiffness (modulus ofelasticity-MOE), compressive strength parallel and perpendicular to grain and surface hardness was evaluated in both species and compared with respective controls. The moisture related wood properties such as EMC, WA and shrinkage were observed to be reduced significantly after thermal modification. Antishrinkage efficiency (ASE) increased by 43% in V1 compared to 31% in V2. MOE and maximum compressive strength values improved significantly in heat treated wood compared to respective controls. Reduction in MOR due to thermal processing was lower in V1 compared to V2.V1 samples showed greater enhancement in several desirable wood properties than V2. Basal portion of short rotation Corymbia citriodora (V1) trees can be thermally modified to improve aesthetic and techno-mechanical parameters for making value-added artifacts such as furniture, wall paneling etc. in nonstructural industry sectors, as an alternative to traditionally used species.