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This paper presents the effect of thermal modification of 14-15 year-old plantation grown Acacia auriculiformis wood in the 150-240°C temperature range under vacuum condition. Important techno-mechanical parameters of thermally modified wood such as density, dimensional stability, colour, surface roughness, decay resistance against brown and white rot fungi and flexural properties were evaluated and compared with control. Depending on severity of heat treatment, colour of modified sapwood was turned from light to dark brownish. Moreover, the change in colour was found to be uniform throughout the thickness of wood blocks. Amount of shrinkage of Acacia auriculiformis wood was observed to be decreased with increasing treatment temperatures. Maximum dimensional stability of wood thermally modified at 240°C was in the range of 60-65%. The surface roughness parameters (Ra and Rz) were reduced significantly after the treatment. The flexural strength (modulus of rupture-MOR) was observed to be reduced with increasing treatment temperatures. However, flexural stiffness (modulus of elasticity-MOE) was not found to be affected significantly up to 210°C temperature. The lower amount of weight loss of thermally modified wood compared to untreated control showed improved decay resistance against white and brown rot fungi. With desirable improvements in various esthetic and technologically important quality parameters such as enhanced dimensional stability, biological durability against fungi and certain other properties, thermally modified wood from short-rotation Acacia auriculiformis may be considered as viable alternative to scarcely available timber resource for different value-added applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new tree variants, namely Acacia hybrid and second-generation Acacia mangium, have been introduced in plantation forests in Sarawak, Malaysia, and their wood qualities were examined. The mean basic density of Acacia hybrid was comparable with Acacia mangium. However basic density and strength properties of secondgeneration A. mangium were significantly lower compared to Acacia hybrid. The mean fibre length and fibre wall thickness in the hybrid were found to be greater than that of second-generation A. mangium. Fibre diameter and fibre lumen diameter of Acacia hybrid were smaller compared to second-generation A. mangium. Runkel and slenderness ratios of Acacia hybrid and second-generation A. mangium fibres showed that they were suitable for pulp and paper production. Acacia hybrid was more resistant to Coptotermes curvignathus attack than second-generation A. mangium. A laboratory soil block test showed that Acacia hybrid and second-generation A. mangium were moderately durable timbers. In summary, marked differences in wood properties and qualities were observed between Acacia hybrid and second-generation A. mangium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]