Effect of Thermo-Vibro-Mechanic® densification process on the gloss and hardness values of some wood materials

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the gloss and hardness values of low-density wood materials densified using the Thermo-Vibro-Mechanic® (TVM) method after pretreatment with wood stain and wood preservative. This was carried out with a TVM density press that was designed and produced with the support of project 115O138 of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). The samples obtained from Uludağ fir (Abies bornmüelleriana Mattf.) and black poplar (Populus nigra L.) were pretreated with wood stain and wood preservative prior to the TVM densification process. The TVM densification operation was conducted at three different temperatures, three different vibration pressures, and three different vibration times. After the TVM densification process, changes in the gloss (ISO 2813 2014) and Brinell hardness values (TS 2479 1976) of the samples were determined. According to the results, the TVM densification method increased the gloss value of the Uludağ fir and black poplar wood pretreated with the wood preservative by 175% and 1390%, respectively, and increased the Brinell hardness value by 63% and 150%, respectively.