Hygroscopicity and Surface Hardness of Domestic Wood Heat-Treated at $220^{\circ}C$

In a previous study, it was revealed that three major softwoods, Japanese pine, Korean pine and Japanese larch, heat-treated at $220^{\circ}C$, could produce high quality dark-colored boards. It is known that heat treatment decreases the hygroscopicity of wood. The hygroscopicity of major domestic softwoods and hardwoods heat-treated at $220^{\circ}C$ was investigated by a saturated salt solution method and compared with that of black and white charcoals. Equilibrium moisture contents of wood decreased with the increase of heat treatment time. Isotherm shapes of wood species were different from those of charcoals. Heat treatment decreases the equilibrium moisture contents of black locust more than those of Korean pine and Japanese larch. It was found that surface hardness of wood is improved by heat treatment to a certain extent, but a longer heat treatment causes thermal degradation, resulting in the decrease of the surface hardness.