This paper reviews the effect of pressure steam conditioning on the permeability and treatability of green radiata pine heartwood and the potential for substituting microwave conditioning for steaming. The penetration of liquids into radiata pine occurs mainly in the radial tissue. The permeability of green radiata pine improves following steam conditioning by blowing out the soft radial tissue. The moisture content of the wood is also reduced following steam conditioning thus increasing the air void volume available for liquid penetration. Intensive microwave irradiation is found to improve the permeability of radiata pine and reduce wood moisture content concurrently thus facilitating immediate impregnation with wood preservatives.

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