Mechanical Properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) with Impregnation Modifiers

Wood modification is a promising alternative to improving the performance of wood without harmful side effects. This study investigates impregnation modification and its effects on the mechanical properties of solid wood, which has been paid limited attention to previously. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) wood was impregnated with four modifiers with an impregnation chamber. The mechanical properties of the modified samples were determined with bending strength, hardness, and impact strength tests. The modifiers penetrated into the wood differently, depending on the quality of the modifier. The melamine-impregnated samples attained the best impregnation, which had an influence on the mechanical properties, but the orientation of the effect varied. It is concluded that the significance of each mechanical property in the modified wood product must be evaluated case by case.