The Influence of Microwave Pretreatment to Poplar Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This paper focuses on the changes of mechanical properties of poplar wood after the microwave pretreatment with different microwave intensity and different irradiating time. The results show that the mechanical properties of poplar wood, such as the modulus of elasticity and the bending strength have decreased when the microwave pretreatment gets lower intensity and shorter irradiating time. But, with the higher microwave pretreatment intensity or longer irradiating time, the mechanical properties of poplar wood has been improved, which is arising from the release of growth stress of poplar wood. After the microwave pretreatment, something have been changed in microstructure of poplar wood, such as the formation of tiny cracks and the membranes rupture, those are contributed to release the growth stress of poplar wood, thereby improve the mechanical properties.