WOOD RESEARCH Volume 71, Number 2, 2026
HONGWEI FAN, MIN LI, XINWEI TU, and LIN YANG

RESEARCH PROGRESS IN SILICIFICATION MODIFICATION OF WOOD. REVIEW

Wood is prone to decay, flammability and poor dimensional stability, which restrict its high-value application in furniture manufacturing, architectural decoration and other fields. As an advanced wood modification technology, wood silicification modification can significantly improve wood properties by impregnating silicon-based precursors into the interior of wood and forming SiO2 in situ. This paper reviews the latest research progress of wood silicification modification, elaborates on the structural characteristics of two types of silicon sources (organic and inorganic), sorts out the key points of current mainstream silicification processes, and analyses the improvement effects of wood silicification modification on wood properties such as dimensional stability, decay resistance and flame retardancy. It is proposed that future research is going to focus on the development of green and efficient new technologies and the exploration of organic-inorganic interface regulation mechanisms, aiming to develop multi-functional intelligent silicified wood.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 69, Number 1, 2024
QUANJI LU, HUICHUAN JIANG, JIANING LI, MIN LI, and GUANJUN LI

SOME PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT PALM (COCOS NUCIFERA) STEM IN HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA

The physical and mechanical properties of 40-year-old coconut stem were investigated in different radial directions and height positions. The results showed that in the radial direction, the properties of the number of vascular bundles (NVB), density, shrinkage, compressive strength parallel to the grain (CS), modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) decreased continuously from the outer area to the inner area, except for the water absorption (WA) value which increased from the outer area to the inner area. The density and MOE decreased from the bottom to the top in the height direction while NVB and WA increased. The shrinkage, CS, and MOE first increased and then decreased from the bottom to the top. NVB in coconut stem affects the density and determines the main mechanical properties of CS, MOR, and MOE. The analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) showed a significant difference in density, NVB, WA, CS, MOR, and MOE in radial direction and height position. These findings can be useful for the development of new applications for coconut stems, such as in construction, landscaping, or furniture manufacturing, as well as for improving our understanding of their structural characteristics

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 65, Number 4, 2020
HUICHUAN JIANG, QUANJI LU, GUANJUN LI, MIN LI, and JIANING LI

Effect of heat treatment on the surface color of rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis)

In this study the effect heat treatment process parameters (temperature, duration and heating rate) on the surface color of rubber wood was evaluated. The color of the rubber wood was determined using CIE L*a*b* system before and after the heat treatment. The colorimetric properties, including total color difference (ΔE*), lightness index (L*), red-green index (a*), and yellow-blue index (b*), were investigated at different treatment conditions. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicate that the heat treatment temperature has a significant effect on the colorimetric properties of the heat-treated rubber wood, duration and heating rate has no effect. Within the experimental range, as the heat treatment temperature and duration increasing, the color of the rubber wood gradually deepens. In order to achieve a surface color like the teak wood, the optimum process conditions are heat treatment temperature 190°C, duration 4 h, heating rate 10°C.h-1.