Evaluation of heat treatment parameters’ effect on some physical and mechanical properties of poplar wood with multi-criteria decision making techniques

Abstract

Effects of the heat treatment parameters were evaluated relative to some physical and mechanical properties of poplar wood (Populus alba L.) with use of two of the prominent multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques: Entropy and The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). To meet this objective, the test samples were heat-treated at 120, 150, 180, and 210 °C for 2 and 4 h in a laboratory-scale oven. With increasing temperature and duration, the shrinkage and swelling ratios of heat-treated samples were improved. However, the bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and compression strength generally decreased with increasing process temperature and duration. According to (MCDM) analyses, thermal modification definitely improved the physical properties of wood up to a point. Bending strength was found to be the most important determinant of heat treatment success. The other determinants were identified as swelling, compression strength, shrinkage, and modulus of elasticity, respectively. Also, the best results were obtained at 120 °C for 2 h. In general, heat treatment above 150 °C or 4 h is not recommended.