Thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of acetylated wood: swelling, compression set recovery and mouldability

Acetylated wood made from radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) was densified at different temperatures in order to investigate its applicability to wood moulding. Six different densification levels ranging from 10 to 60% were carried out each at the temperature levels 80 and 110 °C. The swelling behaviour in cold (20 °C) and warm (60 °C) water and set-recovery cycles were investigated. Densified acetylated wood possesses compression set recovery especially at elevated temperature and humidity. Finally, a tubular section was moulded using a thermo-hydro-mechanical process. Such profiles are supposed to be used for structural purposes. They benefit from the strength, durability and dimension stability of acetylated wood, which in turn gains competitiveness in a material efficient structural product.