This research-project focused on the production and performance characterisation of thermally modified timber, especially used for applications in countries with tropical, subtropical or desert climatic zones (Middle East, Asia). In order to develop markets for novel, full-timber-based products based on domestic wood species, the requirements profiles of building materials in the target countries were analysed. The aim of this study was to carry out, if tropical wood species could be substituted by different European wood species, with proven material properties concerning improved weather ability and dimensionstability due to Thermal Modification. The tasks were to develop a high quality application-related modification and testing procedure of three different European wood species by considering the loss of strength and the increase of brittleness of the material due to Thermal Modification. The weather resistance of various tropical woods allows their outdoor-applications in regions of India with relatively changing climatic conditions over a daily cycle. If European species are to be used in these areas, characteristic values for their physical properties, e.g. heat- conductivity, dimensional stability and sorption behavior need to be determined. It was obtained that sorption-behaviour and thus connected maximal swelling-behaviour of the specimens and products made from Ash – Fraxinus excelsior, Beech – Fagus sylvatica, Pine – Pinus sylvestris were reduced significantly. Further tests showed that Ash specimens performed well considering lowest material-loss due to sand-abrasion and without optical deteriorations after cycles of saltwater-contact.
Keywords: performance characteristics, product-specifications, Thermal Modification
Authors
Clauder L.
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development – University of Applied Sciences, Eberswalde, Germany
Stephan J.-P.
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development – University of Applied Sciences, Eberswalde, Germany
Pfriem A.
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development – University of Applied Sciences, Eberswalde, Germany
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