Thermally modified wood: assessing the impact of weathering on mechanical strength and exposure to subterranean termites

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of three thermal-modified wood species when exposed to weathering in urban and maritime/industrial environments and their durability against subterranean termites. The wood species studied were Maritime pine, ash, and blackwood acacia. All wood samples were exposed to two different environments (urban and maritime/industrial) for 24 months. Then, its physical and mechanical properties were evaluated (modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), compression strength (CS), and modulus of compression (MOC). Thermally modified woods revealed a lower density, which could explain the loss of MOE and MOR. In compression, no significant changes were verified. The weathered samples showed changes in mechanical properties, mostly verified in MOE and MOR, where some decreases were reported in both locations. Tests were performed to evaluate biodegradation and the resistance of all wood samples to subterranean termites. The grade of attack (≈4) and termite survival rate were similar in all wood species (above 75% and lower than 80%), except for modified acacia (59%), which could indicate that thermal modification increased toxic substances. The cellulose degradation was reflected in FTIR-ATR and Py-GC/MS in natural and thermally modified woods. Py-GC/MS showed a decrease in levoglucosan, while lignin suffered some modifications with slight changes in monomeric composition reflected by the reduction of the S/G ratio. No changes were found between the two environments, and thermal modification did not give extra protection against termites and weathering.