Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Borate-Treated Oriental Beech Wood

This study was designed to determine some physical properties such as surface roughness and oven dry density, and some mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity (MOE) of borate-treated wood specimens. Wood specimens were prepared from Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.). Ammonium pentaborate octahydrate (APBO), ammonium tetrafluoroborate (ATFB), and sodium tetrafluoroborate (STFB) were used as borates. Before tests, wood specimens were impregnated with 0.25, 0.50, 1.50, and 3.00 percent aqueous solutions of borates. The results showed that borate treatment caused increases in oven dry density and surface roughness, while it decreased MOE values of Oriental beech. Generally, higher concentration levels of borates resulted in higher oven dry density and lower MOE of Oriental beech wood specimens.