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Combined Densification and Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processing of Wood

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Abstract

The process of heating and compressing wood to improve its properties or reform it to a new shape has been known for decades. Such improvements are usually accompanied by “shape memory,” where the deformation produced by compression is not permanent, and the material recovers when re-moistened and heated.The combination of densification and a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) treatment can transform wood into a new material with improved mechanical properties, decreased sensitivity to moisture, increased durability, and no shape-memory effects. This article presents the principles of combined densification and THM processing, the products and experimental results, the origin of the shape-memory effect and its elimination by THM treatment, and the potential use of THM-processed densified wood in construction applications.

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Authors
  1. Parviz Navi
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  2. Frédéric Heger
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Navi, P., Heger, F. Combined Densification and Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processing of Wood. MRS Bulletin 29, 332–336 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs2004.100

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs2004.100

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