The radial and tangential swelling as well as the fully dried density of low-density wood materials densified via the Thermo-Vibro-Mechanic® method were evaluated in response to applying wood stain and preservative. The samples obtained from Uludağ fir (Abies bornmüelleriana Mattf.) and black poplar (Populus nigra L.) in the radial and tangential direction were pre-treated with wood stain and preservative before undergoing Thermo-Vibro-Mechanic® densification. Thermo-Vibro-Mechanic® densification was performed at three different temperatures (100 °C ± 3 °C, 120 °C ± 3 °C, and 140 °C ± 3 °C), three different vibration pressures (0.60 MPa, 1.00 MPa, and 1.40 MPa), and three different vibration times (20 s, 60 s, and 100 s). Afterwards, changes in the fully dried density and swelling amounts in the radial and tangential directions of the samples were determined. The fully dried density increased by 15.4% to 38% and the radial and tangential swelling amounts increased by 73.2% to 242.6%, when the densified samples were compared to the control samples. In general, the fully dried density and swelling values increased depending on the Thermo-Vibro-Mechanic® densification parameters; higher values were found as the compression ratio and total application time increased.
Evaluation of Internal Cracks and Collapse in Poplar Wood (Populus nigra) during a Conventional Drying Process with Ultrasonic Inspection