Abstract:

In the present work, hydrothermal-microwave treatment was used for juvenile and mature ash wood softened treatment. Ratio of longitudinal compressing, single and multi-dimensional minimal curvature radius were used to evaluate the softening result. XRD and FTIR were used for the characterization of surface composition and crystallinity, analyzing the effect of softened treatment on longitudinal compressing and bending curvature ash wood. The results showed hydrothermal-microwave treatment could soften ash wood and increase the number of hydroxyl groups on wood surface significantly. And it also led to microfibre tended to arrange orderly and the degree of crystallinity increased in the non-crystalline region , the hydroxyl of the sur-microfibre exposed, the hydrogen bonding enhanced and the width of crystal region increased in the crystal region. When the time of hydrothermal and microwave treatment is 140-150 min and 350 s respectively, the ratio of longitudinal compressing reached maximum, and the single and multi-dimensional radius reached minimum.

Key words: ash, hydrothermal-microwave treatment, longitudinal compressing and bending