Study on the Thermal Properties of the Wood from the Ancient Buildings

The thermal properties of three kinds of woods, pinus koraiensis, hemlock and spruce which were taken from the Potala Palace, an ancient building in Lhasa of China, were investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis method carried out in air and nitrogen atmosphere. The results showed that there were three degrading stages for three kinds of woods in air, which corresponded to the water loss in woods, the degradation of the hemicelluloses, celluloses and lignin and oxidation of charred residues. However, there were only two degrading stages of the woods in nitrogen atmosphere, which corresponded to the water loss in woods, the degradation of the hemicelluloses, celluloses and lignin, because the charred residues of the wood could not be further oxidated in inert atmosphere.