Poplar (Populus spp.) are among the fastest growing timber species and have been widely planted for use in plywood, composites, pallets, furniture components and paper production. However, the low density of the wood limits many structural applications and the wood has little resistance to biodegradation. Thermal modification represents one approach to improving durability by changing the moisture behavior of the wood, but it can also have adverse effects on structural performance. Understanding the potential effects of thermal treatment on poplar properties can help define the most appropriate applications for these materials. Poplar timbers from Iran were subjected to 30 or 60 min of thermal treatment at temperatures ranging from 110 to 220 °C. Samples were then evaluated for mass loss during treatment, changes in flexural properties, e.g., modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), the degree of polymerization, and water absorption characteristics. MOR of controls subjected to 100 °C were similar to those exposed to 160 °C, while MOE was more variable with a slight upward trend for samples exposed to a given heating regime for only 30 min. The increases in MOE may be related to changes in cellulose crystallinity. Mass losses increased with increasing temperature exposure while moisture absorption decreased as expected with longer thermal exposure. The degree of polymerization remained similar for samples exposed up to 170 °C and then increased at higher temperatures. The increases may reflect the complete destruction of shorter chain polymers, leaving only the heat-resistant longer chain polymers. The results suggest that poplar can be thermally modified within limited parameters to improve some performance attributes without adversely affecting its structural capacity

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