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Influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability and density of compressed beech wood

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Abstract

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood specimens were subjected to thermo-mechanical densification, and the influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability, mean density and density profiles was evaluated. The specimens with two initial moisture contents, 18% and the fibre saturation point, were compressed by 20 and 40% at temperatures of 160, 180, 200, and 220 °C for several times, specified in the Methods, ranging from 6 to 12 min. Dimensional changes were observed immediately after the removal from the hot press and subsequent conditioning (20 °C, 65% relative humidity). The properties of the compressed beech wood were influenced by all the pressing parameters. This influence, however, varied based on the factor and property. The analysis showed as most appropriate: an initial moisture content ranging from 17 to 20%, a pressing temperature ≥ 180 °C and pressing time ≥ 10 min for the given thickness. As for the compression degree, it is necessary to consider the purpose of compression and the wood properties required.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the following: the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education SR and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Grant no. 1/0822/17 “Surface modification of wood and coating materials in order to improve stability of the wood-coating material system”), and supported by the Specific University Research Fund of the FFWT Mendel University in Brno (LDF_PSV_2016015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovakia

    Jozef Kúdela & Marek Rešetka

  2. University of Sopron, Bajcsy Zsilinszky u. 4, Sopron, 9400, Hungary

    Peter Rademacher

  3. Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Radim Rousek & Aleš Dejmal

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  1. Jozef Kúdela
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  2. Radim Rousek
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  4. Marek Rešetka
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Correspondence to Peter Rademacher.

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Kúdela, J., Rousek, R., Rademacher, P. et al. Influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability and density of compressed beech wood. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 76, 1241–1252 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-018-1298-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-018-1298-8

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