Effect of densification of Eucalyptus nitens and E. obliqua on moisture uptake, swelling, decay resistance, and fire performance

Some Australian Eucalyptus species that are abundantly available have low natural durability and poor resistance to fire. These same species are also extremely difficult to treat with preservatives or fire retardants using conventional pressure treatment methods due to a large proportion of refractory heartwood. The aim of this research was to understand whether thermo-mechanical densification had any beneficial effects on the durability or fire performance of plantation ,Eucalyptus nitens and regrowth Eucalyptus obliqua. Moisture uptake, mass loss and swelling of the samples after exposure to brown and white rot fungi (F. ostreiformis and P. coccineus)were used to analyse the decay resistance of the densified material, while cone calorimeter tests were used to indicate heat release rates. Thermo-mechanical densification has many positive attributes for improving hardness and modifying colour but did not improve decay resistance or fire performance of the samples, however further testing is advised.