Influence of heat pressure steaming (HPS) on the mechanical and physical properties of common oak wood

Common oak (Quercus robur) was thermally treated applying a heat pressure steaming procedure. Physical and mechanical properties of treated and untreated samples were investigated extensively. Swelling, water absorption, water vapour resistance, porosity and thermal conductivity were tested and the mechanical properties of tensile, bending and compression strength and of Young’s modulus (static and dynamic) as well as Poisson’s ratio and shear modulus were determined. The tests were carried out in the standard climate 20 °C and 65 % relative humidity and also in all three anatomical main directions: longitudinal, radial and tangential. The equilibrium moisture content at 20 °C and 65 % relative humidity for HPS (heat pressure steamed) oak (determined in adsorption test) was 6.7 % and for untreated oak 9.1 %. Swelling in longitudinal direction was not affected: a reduction of 17 and 10 % could be observed in radial and tangential direction, respectively. The porosity of the treated samples was 53.9 % in comparison to the untreated samples with 51.0 %. The thermal conductivity depending on the modification procedure changed only slightly which was related to the different densities of the samples. The water vapour resistance of the modified samples increases compared to the untreated samples. The values are double (dry-cup) respectively three times (wet-cup) higher than those of the reference samples. The elastic properties were not influenced by heat pressure steaming. The MOE does not show a significant change depending on the treatment. Bending and tensile strength of HPS oak decrease. In longitudinal direction, the tensile strength drops by 26 % and the bending strength by 25 %.