Effects of heating humidity on the physical properties of hydrothermally treated spruce wood

To clarify the effects of humidity during heating on the physical properties of hydrothermally treated wood, Sitka spruce wood was heated in an autoclave at 120 °C and different heating humidity (HRH), and their equilibrium moisture content (EMC), specific dynamic Young’s modulus (E′/ρ), and mechanical loss tangent (tanδ) were measured at 25 °C and 60 % RH prior to and after the hydrothermal treatment. Higher values of HRH resulted in greater...