Estudio del proceso de densificación de madera de Eucalyptus grandis

The increasing demand for forest products and the expansion of fast-growing species have promoted the development of technologies aimed at improving wood properties. In this context, thermomechanical densification has emerged as an alternative for increasing the density and mechanical properties of woods such as Eucalyptus grandis, expanding their potential applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the thermomechanical densification process on Eucalyptus grandis wood, analyzing the influence of temperature, pressure and pressing time on density and maximum compression perpendicular to the grain. Eucalyptus grandis wood from a commercial plantation in Uruguay was used. The experiment was conducted under a completely randomized design with a 2³ factorial arrangement, evaluating two levels of temperature (160 and 190 °C), two pressing times (1 and 3 h) and two pressure levels (5 and 10 MPa). Densification was performed by thermomechanical pressing under controlled conditions. Subsequently, apparent density and maximum load in compression perpendicular to the grain were determined. Data was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), considering the main effects and their interactions. The results showed an increase in density for all treatments, with increases ranging from 5 % to 35 %, while the mechanical properties showed variable responses, with significant increases in some treatments. Statistical analysis revealed a significant interaction among factors for density, while pressure was the main factor influencing the maximum load in compression perpendicular to the grain. It was concluded that thermomechanical densification can improve the quality of Eucalyptus grandis wood, although its effect on wood properties depends on the combination of process variables.