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Reduction of the surface colour variability of thermally modified Eucalyptus globulus wood by colour pre-grading and homogeneity thermal treatment

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Abstract

A new method that consists of combining wood pre-grading by surface colour followed by the application of homogeneity thermal treatments is proposed to reduce the surface colour variability of the thermally modified blue gum wood. To identify the conditions of the homogeneity thermal treatment for two pre-graded groups with different initial surface colours (pinkish and yellowish), the effects of applying 25 different thermal treatment intensities to such groups were analysed. The effects of this method on mass loss and volumetric swelling were also analysed. Results show that an optical pre-grading of the wood samples and treatments under different conditions can reduce the colour variability of the blue gum wood samples, as well as the volumetric swelling. Mass loss was not homogenised after the treatment, but the difference of masses between the two groups was similar to their untreated state. The application of this new methodology may be of interest for the sawn timber industry to bring more uniform boards on the markets and to promote Eucalyptus globulus as a price-competitive and sustainable alternative timber.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the COST Action FP1303 “Performance of bio-based building materials” for financing this research and the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Kuchl campus, for their help and facilities. This research was partially funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through the doctoral grant of Carolina Griebeler by means of the “Ciência sem Fronteiras” program.

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Author notes

  1. Carolina Griebeler & Carmen Iglesias

    Present address: Agroforestry Engineering Department, School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSEA), University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Products Technology and Wood Constructions Department, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Kuchl, Austria

    Gianluca Tondi & Thomas Schnabel

  2. Telecommunication and System Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain

    Sergio Ruiz

Authors
  1. Carolina Griebeler
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  2. Gianluca Tondi
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  3. Thomas Schnabel
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  4. Carmen Iglesias
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  5. Sergio Ruiz
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Correspondence to Carolina Griebeler.

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Griebeler, C., Tondi, G., Schnabel, T. et al. Reduction of the surface colour variability of thermally modified Eucalyptus globulus wood by colour pre-grading and homogeneity thermal treatment. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 76, 1495–1504 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-018-1310-3

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