Physical, Mechanical and Bonding Performance of Calabrian Pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) as Influenced by Heat Treatment

In this study, the effects of heat treatment on some physical, mechanical, wettability and bonding properties of Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) were investigated. Specimens were exposed to heat under atmospheric pressure at four different temperatures (120, 150, 180, 210 °C) and three different time levels (2, 5, 8 hours). Weight loss, bending strength (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) in bending, Young’s modulus in compression, compression strength parallel to grain, contact angle, and bonding performance using shear tests were evaluated. All of the properties of the specimens tested were affected by heat treatment of different intensity. As a result, softer treatments yielded some increase in mechanical properties, but increase of time and temperature resulted in significant decrease in mechanical properties with decreasing mass loss. Contact angle measurements before and after treatment indicated a significant increase in wood hydrophobicity. Shear strength of the specimens were diminished when time and temperature of heat treatment were increased.