Tytuł pozycji:
Hues of Acer platanoides L. resulting from processes of thermal treatment with saturated steam
An analysis was made of the hues of the wood of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) resulting from processes of thermal treatment (colour modification) with saturated steam: tI = 112.5 ±2.5°C for τ = 5.5 hours (mode I), tII = 127.5 ±2.5°C for τ = 6.5 hours (mode II) and tIII = 137.5 ±2.5 °C for τ = 7.5 hours (mode III). Mode I produced a darker brown hue of Norway maple wood described with the following coordinates in the CIE-L*a*b*colour space: LI * = 77.2 ±1.8, aI * = 9.1 ±1.7, bI * = 18.9 ±1.5. Mode II led to a light brown-pink colour with the coordinates LII * = 70.9 ±1.5, aII * = 11.0 ±0.6, bII * = 18.9 ±0.8. Maple wood thermally modified in mode III acquired a unique brown-red colour with the coordinates LIII * = 63.3 ±1.9, aIII * = 11.1 ±0.5, bIII * = 19.2 ±0.6. When the temperature of the saturated steam used in the thermal treatment process is increased, and the exposure time of the wood is prolonged, the colour of the wood becomes darker. Specific hues are achieved through increases in the values of the red coordinate a* and yellow coordinate b* in the CIE-L*a*b*colour space. The irreversible changes in the colour of Norway maple wood achieved in some modes of colour modification with saturated steam broaden the possibilities for its use in the fields of construction and carpentry, as well as in art and design.