Potentiality of microwave technology for treatment of Norway spruce wood to reduce risk of resin exudation from wood materials

Abstract

Microwave technology finds application in wood processing, particularly for improving drying and impregnation. A less explored application is the treatment of wood to reduce resin exudation. The aim of this research is to examine how microwave treatment of spruce wood specimens can change the physico-chemical properties of resin to retain it in the wood. The results demonstrated that microwave treatment can increase the glass transition temperature more rapidly than conventional heat treatment. Both the amount of volatile content and chemical composition of resin are affected. Further optimization of treatment parameters, such as duration and power density, could enhance the efficiency of this method.