Heat treatment is often used to improve the dimensional stability of wood. In this study, the effects of heat treatment on the physical properties and surface roughness of Turkish Hazel (Corylus colurna L.) wood were examined. Samples obtained from Kastamonu Forest Enterprises, Turkey, were subjected to heat treatment at varying temperatures and for different durations. The physical properties of heat-treated and control samples were tested, and oven-dry density, air-dry density, and swelling properties were determined. A stylus method was employed to evaluate the surface characteristics of the samples. Roughness measurements, using the stylus method, were made in the direction perpendicular to the fiber. Four main roughness parameters, mean arithmetic deviation of profile (Ra), mean peak-to-valley height (Rz), root mean square roughness (Rq), and maximum roughness (Ry) obtained from the surface of wood were used to evaluate the effect of heat treatment on the surface characteristics of the specimens. Significant difference was determined (p = 0.05) between physical properties and surface roughness parameters (Ra,Rz, Ry, Rq) for three temperatures and three OPEN ACCESSInt. J. Mol. Sci. 2008, 9 1773 durations of heat treatment. The results showed that the values of density, swelling and surface roughness decreased with increasing temperature treatment and treatment times. Turkish Hazel wood could be utilized successfully by applying proper heat treatment techniques without any losses in investigated parameters. This is vital in areas, such as window frames, where working stability and surface smoothness are important factors.

The heat treatment of wood is an environment-friendly method for wood preservation. The heat treatment process only uses steam and heat, and no chemicals or agents are applied to the material during the process. Tests have shown no harmful emissions are apparent when working with the material. This process improves wood's resistance to decay and its dimensional stability. In this study, the density, compression strength and hardness of heat treated hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) wood were investigated. Wood specimens that had been conditioned at 65% relative humidity and 20 ºC were subjected to heat treatment at 170, 190, and 210 ºC for 4, 8, and 12 hrs. After heat treatment, compression strength and hardness were determined according to TS 2595 and TS 2479. The results showed that the decreases of compression strength and hardness were related to the extent of density loss. Both compression strength and hardness decreased with the increasing temperatures and durations of the heat treatment. While the maximum density loss observed was 16.12% at 210 ºC and 12 hour, at these heat-treatment conditions, the compression strength approximately decreased 30% and hardness values in tangential, radial, and longitudinal directions approximately decreased by 55%, 54%, and 38%, respectively. Hence, it was concluded that there might be a relationship between changes of these wood properties.