Color change and thermogravimetric analysis of thermally treated Eucalyptus grandis wood.

Eucalyptus grandis wood was thermally treated at two different temperatures (150 °C and 200 °C) in a muffle furnace with steam. The surface color change was measured right after the treatment and in wood samples stored for two years inside a carton box without light exposure. Samples were analyzed by thermogravimetry to detect variation of thermal degradation behavior for different treatment temperatures. Thermally treated wood was darker when compared to control samples. The storage time influenced the wood surface color, with the surface becoming darker and redder. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a peak of wood degradation between 300 °C and 400 °C for thermally treated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]