Evaluating the effect of heat treating temperature and duration on selected wood properties using comprehensive cluster analysis

In this study, twenty-five heat treatments were conducted at the various treating conditions of five temperatures and five durations. At each treatment, 15 poplar specimens were used. Twelve variables that represented wood color, physical and mechanical properties and durability were measured for both treated and untreated specimens. To evaluate the effect of heat treatment on the wood performance, a comprehensive cluster analysis was applied to the measured variables of treated and untreated specimens. Cluster analysis showed that treating and control specimens can be distinctly classified into 2, 3 or 4 clusters according to the intended purposes. Two clusters can represent the control group and twenty-five testing groups. Four clusters represented the control group and three groups of testing specimens having mild, moderate and severe treating conditions, respectively. At the mild treatment, modulus of rupture (MOR) was reduced <11 %. Wood durability increased to moderate resistant. At the moderate treatment, EMC decreased by 28 %, and MOR was decreased by more than 12 %. In the severe treatment, wood durability increased to resistant or highly resistant; however, its MOR was reduced half.