Analysis of the Hygroscopicity of Thermally Modified Wood: Alterations, Characterizations, and Implications for Enhanced Performance

Recently, wood has gained increasing significance as a valuable raw material, and various modification systems aim to enhance its properties and durability. The thermal wood process, referring to the thermal modification of wood, has witnessed new technological developments and widespread practical application. Thermal modification involves altering the chemical structure of cell walls through the influence of heat, pressure, and moisture without the introduction of additional chemicals. The desired properties of modified wood are achieved by carefully combining heating media types, process duration, final temperatures, and the wood species undergoing modification. This process enables the enhancement of wood properties, color alteration, and the utilization of lower-quality wood species. This study presents laboratory tests on wood samples using the thermal modification method in the presence of air. Additionally, beyond the thermal modification process, the hygroscopicity of both thermally modified and unmodified samples is examined using the immersion method. The results obtained from the investigation of thermal modification and immersion methods provide a clearer perspective on the future utilization of thermally treated wood.