Influence of Hygrothermal Modification on Surface Characteristics and Failure Modes of Poplar Wood

 In the current research, surface properties and failure modes of modified poplar wood (Populus deltoides) by hygrothermal treatment were evaluated. For this aim, the effect of variable factors included hygrothermal temperature (three levels: 130, 150 and 170°C) and holding time (two levels: 20 and 40 minutes) on poplar wood specimens properties (contact angle and surface roughness) prior to and after planning were investigated. The surface characteristics and failure modes were evaluated for both treated and untreated wood specimens. The results revealed that surface roughness of poplar wood was enhanced due to the hygrothermal treatment in both states of before and after planning. It was also found that the hygrothermal treatment decreased contact angle of distilled water. The bending strength of specimens was reduced by hygrothermal treatment. According to the results, failure modes of hygrothermally treated specimens were simple and compression types in bending strength test. Keywords: Surface roughness, contact angle, bending strength, failure mode