Title: Effect of heat treatment on bending strength and decay resistance of Styrax tonkinensis wood
Abstract: Effects of heat treatment in N2 gas on bending strength and fungal resistance properties of Styrax tonkinensis have been examined. Heat treatments show the positive effect on the resistance to both types of fungi (white-rot and brown-rot) at 200°C and for more than 8 hours. However, heat treat-ment at the above conditions decreases its strength to as much as 40 %. The decrease of hemicel-lulose is thought to contribute to the durability improvements.