Effect of static densification of treated paulownia wood on relationship between strength and density

In this paper effect of static densification of treated paulownia on relationship between strength properties and density was investigated. Specimens were steamed at 130 and 170oc and immediately were compressed to 35% and 45% of their original thickness in radial direction. Mechanical properties such as bending strength, brinell surface hardness and compression strength in axial and radial direction were determined for non-densified and densified wood. Indexes of density, strength, quality and strength potential were calculated to study the relationship between strength and density. The results show that the density index and strength index and also strengths significantly increased with increase in densification but strength potential indexes decreased. Steam treatment at 130oc had a slight positive effect on the strengths and strength potential indexes as effect of softening the wood but the strength potential indexes and strengths decreased due to treatment of wood at 170oc. Generally, strength potential indexes of all tested mechanical properties show that strength of densified paulownia was lower compared to what had expected for non-densified paulownia from increasing density, which in turn demonstrate the cell walls were negatively affected by compression. Axial compression strength and brinell hardness were slightly affected by densification.