Effects of thermo-hygro-mechanical densification on the surface characteristics of trembling aspen and hybrid poplar wood veneers

Authors

Papa Niokhor Diouf
Tatjana Stevanovic
Alain Cloutier
Chang-Hua Fang
Pierre Blanchet
Ahmed Koubaa
Nicolas Mariotti

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Applied Surface Science

Volume

257

Issue

8

First Page

3558

Last Page

3564

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

The effect of thermo-hygro-mechanical (THM) densification temperature on the surface color, roughness, wettability, and chemical composition of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and hybrid poplar (Populus maximowiczii × P. balsamifera) veneers was investigated. Veneers were subjected to four THM densification temperatures (160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C). Veneer color darkened with increasing THM densification temperature. Surface roughness decreased between 160 °C and 200 °C. Wettability decreased after THM densification, but no significant difference was found between treated specimens. ATR-FTIR and XPS results confirmed that THM densification caused major chemical changes in veneer surfaces, and more pronounced at temperatures higher than 160 °C.

Recommended Citation

Diouf, P. N.; Stevanovic, T.; Cloutier, A.; Fang, C. H.; Blanchet, P.; Koubaa, A.; Mariotti, N. 2011. Effects of thermo-hygro-mechanical densification on the surface characteristics of trembling aspen and hybrid poplar wood veneers. Applied Surface Science 257(8): 3558-3564.