Thermowood Ash Hardwood Decking

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Thermowood is a modification process with steam and high heat treatment. This process takes between 48 and 96 hours, taking into account some variables such as; timber species, width and initial moisture content.

Thermowood process can be divided into 3 stages; high temperature drying, heat treatment and cooling. Most of the negatives of wood are minimized and have been abolished.

As a result of the high temperature applied to the wood, the substances which shorten the lifecycle of any timber (glucose,citric acid, resin etc) which exist at the inner part of the wood are resolved and crystallized. This process makes the physical properties of the timber better, improves the durability and provides an excellent colour.

The reduced moisture content of the wood and relative humidity removed the Thermo-Ash, Thermo-Iroko and Thermo-Oak becomes very stable.

THERMOWOOD METHOD.

1. Temperature increase and high temperature drying:

Wood temperature is raised rapidly using heat and steam to a level of around 100 deg C. Thereafter the temperature is increased steadily to 130 deg C and moisture content is reduced to almost zero.

2. Heat Treatment:

Whenever high heat drying is required the temperature is increased to a level of between 185 - 215 deg C. When the correct level is reached the temperature remains constant for 2-3 hours.

3. Cooling and Conditioning:

In this final stage, the temperature is reduced to 50-60 deg C by using a controlled water spraying system, this process continues until the moisture content reaches between 4% - 6%.

During this raising and lowering of the temperature, a special adjustment system is used in order to prevent the surface and inside from checking and spitting. These values differ depending on the species and dimensions.