Improving the properties of HDF boards for use in humid conditions

Industrially produced HDFs were subjected to heating or the boards have been covered with a layer of vegetable oil, and then the boards were heated at 150º C for 1.5-2.5 h These operations aimed at increasing the tensile properties and reduce swelling to the extent that these boards may be used in wet conditions outdoors. Properties of produced boards were examined, which concluded that boards thermal treatment leads to a significant improvement of their properties (MOR and MOE increase and decrease of TS) and oil saturation of boards can be useful to reduce the swelling of boards.