The paper presents and discusses selected methods of wood classification and the evaluation of its mechanical properties. Attention was mainly paid to methods that may be particularly useful for examining existing elements and structures. The possibility of estimating the modulus of rupture—MOR and modulus of elasticity—MOE based on the non- destructive (NDT), semi-destructive (SDT), and destructive tests (DT) were considered. Known international, European, and American standards and research approaches were indicated. The selected testing methods and their interpretation were presented. These were, among others, the method of visual assessment, the resistance drilling method, methods of determining the dynamic modulus of elasticity, and procedures for testing small clear specimens. Moreover, some of our own research results from the conducted experimental tests were presented and discussed. In the destructive tests, both large elements and small clear specimens were examined. The results obtained from individual methods were compared and some conclusions were presented. The summary discusses the fundamental difficulties and limitations in applying the presented procedures and interpretations.

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Cellular injection molding is a common method of modifying polymer materials aimed at reducing the sink marks on moldings’ surfaces while reducing their weight. However, the dimensions of polypropylene (PP) samples as well as their mechanical properties after the injection molding process change as a result of re-crystallization. Knowledge of dimensional accuracy and awareness of the change in mechanical properties of products during conditioning are very important aspects in the polymer processing industry. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the value of processing shrinkage and the size of the sink marks of porous PP moldings depending on the degree of porosity and the time since they were removed from the injection mold cavity. Studies of the structure and mechanical properties of moldings were carried out after several conditioning time intervals. The maximum conditioning time of samples was 840 h at 23 °C. Based on the analysis of the test results, it was found that the cellular injection molding process with the holding phase reduces the nucleation of gas pores, which results in a smaller reduction of sink marks than in the case of samples produced without the holding phase. However, PP moldings with a porosity degree equal to 8.9% were characterized by a higher shrinkage value after 1 h of conditioning, compared to moldings with porosity equal to 3.6%. The extension of the conditioning time also resulted in an increase in the value of linear shrinkage and the properties determined during tensile tests of solid and porous samples. Furthermore, in the case of samples with the highest porosity, the impact strength was reduced by about 30% after 840 h of conditioning compared to results obtained after 1 h.

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