The swelling of wood upon impregnation by aqueous solutions of organic solvents is larger than swelling by pure water. This phenomenon, described as "hyperswelling", results from specific interactions with components of the complex wood microstructure. To understand the combined effect of mixed solvents on wood properties, the specific influence of each solvent on wo od biopolymers and structure must be first characterized. In this study, the effect of th e impregnation of aqueous solutions of ethanol with concentrations from 0 to 100% on the physico-mechanical properties of poplar wood was investigated. For each solution, the sorption behaviour of veneer sapwood samples and the effect of sorption on wood C2MA is member of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE), http://www. epnoe .eu.