Properties after weathering and decay resistance of a thermally modified wood structural board

This paper aims to evaluate whether a thermal post-treatment can be applied to enhance the performance of oriented strandboard (OSB). Samples from 42 commercial OSBs were heat-treated at two temperature levels (190 and 220 degrees C) and for three heating times (12, 16, and 20 min) using a single opening hot-press. For comparison, control boards were kept untreated. These samples were exposed for eight months to outdoor weathering, and then their physical and mechanical properties were evaluated, as was their decay resistance against the brown-rot (Gloeophyllum trabeum [Persoon ex Fries] Murrill) and white-rot (Trametes versicolor [Linnaeus ex Fries] Pilat Murrill) fungi. The results indicated that the heat-treated samples maintained their mechanical properties at a much higher level after weathering than did the untreated ones. It was determined that the higher the treatment temperature, the better the residual mechanical properties. The proposed thermal treatment also slightly improved the decay resistance against the two evaluated fungi, but it was not enough to change the resistance class of the OSB. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.