Desarrollo de proceso tecnológico para la carbonización superficial de la madera de tres especies forestales

Superficial carbonization implies a modification of the physical and chemical properties of the wood
surface without introducing any chemical product so that there is no harmful impact on the
environment and human health. The process consists of carbonizing the surface of the wood using
a hot iron flat at a temperature of 200 to 400 °C, and thus reducing the effects of weathering and
degradation by fungi and insects. Species such as Cupressus lusitanica, Gmelina arborea and
Tectona grandis are widely used in commercial reforestation, however, lack of end-products to
increase the added value of these species. This research proposal has the objective of developing
and evaluating a technological process that allows the superficial carbonization of the wood of the
species above mentioned to be used as cladding in buildings. The information generated with this
project will strengthen the country's forestry and construction sector, by having a treatment to
improve the weather resistance of wood that does not include the use of chemical reagents, so it
will not have a negative impact on the environment. or human health. The project consists of two
phases: in the first stage, an evaluation of the optimal experimental conditions of superficial
carbonization will be made and the physical-chemical characteristics of the carbonized wood will be
evaluated (density, hardness, moisture content, calorific value, ashes, volatile and chemical
components by elemental analysis of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen content and
by FT-IR analysis and the chemical composition. In the second stage, with the values obtained from
these properties under the different conditions of carbonization used, the optimal condition for each
species will be determined, which will serve for the design of a semi-industrial equipment to for
surface charring pieces of wood up to 60 cm long. In this stage, the quality of the carbonized surface
will be evaluated again, but in weather conditions to observe the effect of natural photo degradation.

Desarrollar y evaluar un proceso tecnológico que permita la
carbonización superficial de tres maderas de plantaciones forestales (Cupressus
lusitanica, Gmelina arborea y Tectona grandis) para ser utilizadas como revestimiento en
edificaciones

La propuesta se enmarca dentro de la línea de investigación 3 de la Escuela de
Ingeniería Forestal: Tecnología de productos forestales, biomasa y bioenergía.