Study on the effect of nano-silver impregnation on mechanical properties of heat-treated Populus nigra

The present study is aimed at investigating the effect of heat treatment of nano-silver-impregnated Populus nigra on weight loss, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and compression parallel to grain. Specimens were impregnated with 200 PPM water-based solution of nano-silver particles at 2.5 bar in a pressure vessel. For heat treatment, both nano-silver-impregnated and simple specimens were kept for 24 h at 45°C and then further for 24 h at 145°C and finally for 4 h at 185°C. MOR decreased from 529 to 461 kg/cm² in heat-treated specimens; MOE and compression parallel to grain were though improved. Also, comparison between heat-treated and nano-silver-impregnated heat-treated specimens showed that there was a decrease in MOR and MOE in nano-silver-impregnated heat-treated specimens. This shows that nano-silver impregnation facilitates transfer of heat in wood and it may increase the process of degradation and pyrolysis of wood structures in deeper parts of specimens.