The effect of process parameters on the hardness of surface densified Scots pine solid wood

This paper addresses the effect of surface densification on the Brinell hardness of Scots pine sapwood. Densification was performed in an open system under heat and compression using different compression temperatures and closing times. The hardness was measured using a modified Brinell hardness method. Furthermore, the density profiles of the samples were measured and their correlation to hardness analysed. It was found that the process parameters strongly affected the hardness of surface densified solid wood. This knowledge is relevant when optimising the densification process according to the properties required of the end-product. At 150 A degrees C compression temperature and 0.5 min closing time, the average Brinell hardness (23.4 N/mm(2)) was double to that at 200 A degrees C and 5 min closing time (11.6 N/mm(2)).