Influence of thermal rectification and furfurylation treatments on technological properties of a conifer

ABSTRACT The Pinus elliottii Engelm. has a wide range of applications, but it has undesirable characteristics that can be attenuated with the adoption of thermal rectification and furfurylation treatments. Thus, this work analyzed the influence of two treatments of modification, furfurilatyon and thermal rectification, in technological properties of Pinus elliottii Engelm. wood. For this, samples with dimensions of 15 x 15 x 250 mm (tangential, radial and longitudinal) were prepared, distributed equally among 5 treatments: control, furfurylation with 25% loading of furfuryl alcohol (T F25 %) and thermortification at different temperatures (T 180 ° C, T 200 ° C and T 220 ° C). It were evaluated the mass loss (PM) according to ASTM D 2017 (2005), specific gravity at 12% moisture content (ρ12%), elastic modulus (MOE) and rupture (MOR) by performing the static bending test in accordance with ASTM D 143 (2014), and wood color variation in accordance with the CIE-L*a*b* system recommendations. It was verified that the treatment with furfurol caused: significant increases in the mass, ρ12%, MOR, and caused the wood darkening, not significantly affecting the MOE, in 5% probability of error. The thermal rectification treatments significantly affected the mass loss, however the highest difference was observed in the T 220 ° C treatment, which caused a significant reduction on MOR in relation to the control group, highlighting that such treatment left the wood with coloration similar to that obtained by wood treated with furfurol. It's concluded that both treatments caused darkening of Pinus elliottii wood, thus adding aesthetic value, being that the furfurol treatment with a 25% load caused an improvement on technological properties of wood. In spite of the thermal rectification treatments increased the MOE, they generated significant mass loss, mainly in the more aggressive treatments, thus compromising possible uses of the wood with structural purpose.