EFFECT OF MICROWAVE HEATING ON pH AND DURABILITY OF <em>EUCALYPTUS</em> <em>TERETICORNIS</em> WOOD

Abstract

Microwave treatment increases treatability of wood. In the present study, Eucalyptus tereticornis wood was exposed to microwave radiation with 2450 MHz frequency for 3 and 5 min at four different microwave intensity treatments. The pH, retention of preservative and durability against termite of microwave-treated and control specimens were tested. Results revealed that the pH of wood decreased and retention of preservative in wood increased with increasing microwave treatment times and intensity but resistance against termite was not affected. Microwave pre-treatment can be useful to improve retention of preservative and to reduce the pH of wood.