Comparing Some Hardness Methods for Estimating Thermo-Vacuum Treatment Efficiency
Abstract
Durometer hardness (Shore D) is generally used for measuring hardness of the thermoplastic elastomers, vulcanized rubber, some plastics etc. In this study, availability of the Shore D hardness method for wood hardness was investigated. In addition, it was investigated whether the values obtained from thermo-vacuum treated material differed from those obtained from untreated material. Because the method has potential for in-situ measurements as a non-destructive evaluation method with its relatively smaller measurement needle. Untreated and thermo-vacuum (Termovuoto®) treated at 200oC treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) samples were used in this study. Due to the needle size, method principle, and heterogeneity caused by annual ring structure, full radial and radial specimens were prepared, and earlywood and latewood hardness values were measured in each group. In addition, the Shore D hardness method was compared with the static Janka hardness method to evaluate efficiency. The results showed that the thermal treatment can be predicted using a durometer hardness tester with taking anatomical features into account. In terms of cutting method, the data obtained from fully radial and radially cut samples were similar. Based on annual rings, different results were obtained in early- and latewood. Furthermore, higher results were obtained in both untreated and treated latewood layers, and in both fully radial and radially cut samples. However, a review of the literature reveals that the results obtained using the Shore D method in Scots pine show significant variations. In light of the results of this study, it is suggested that anatomical differences should also be taken into account in order to eliminate variation dependent on macroscopic variables. Otherwise, although the standards related to the Shore D method recommend the application of standard weights in hardness measurements of other materials, in this study, low variations were obtained even though the tests were performed heterogeneously using human force.
Keywords
References
- Akçay Ç. (2020). Determination of decay, larvae resistance, water uptake, color, and hardness properties of wood impregnated with honeybee wax. BioResources 15(4), 8339-8354. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.15.4.8339-8354
- Akçay Ç., Ayata Ü., Birinci E., Yalçın M., Kolaylı S. (2022). Some Physical, Biological, Hardness, and Color Properties of Wood Impregnated with Propolis. Forestist 72(3), 283-293. https://doi.org/10.5152/forestist.2022.21051
- Allegretti O., Brunetti M., Cuccui I., Ferrari S., Nocetti M., Terziev N. (2012). Thermo-vacuum modification of spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.) wood. BioResources 7(3), 3656-3669. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.7.3.3656-3669
- Allegretti O., Cuccui I., Terziev N., Sorini L. (2021). A model to predict the kinetics of mass loss in wood during thermo-vacuum modification. Holzforschung 75(5), 474-479. https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2020-0127
- Anonymous (2003). ThermoWood ® Handbook, Finnish ThermoWood Association, Helsinki-Finland.
- ASTM D 2240 (2021). Standard test method for rubber property-durometer hardness. American Society for Testing and Materials, WestConshohocken, Pennsylvania, United States. https://doi.org/10.1520/d2240-04
- Ayata Ü., Dilik T. (2020). Investigation of Shore-D hardness and surface roughness parameters on fig wood (In Turkish). ArtGRID-Journal of Architecture Engineering and Fine Arts 2(2), 98-109. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/artgrid/issue/59446/830515
- Bal B.C. (2018). A comparative study of some of the mechanical properties of pine wood heat treated in vacuum, nitrogen, and air atmospheres. BioResources 13(3), 5504-5511. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.13.3.5504-5511
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Wood Physics and Mechanics
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
August 15, 2026
Submission Date
October 27, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 22, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 28 Number: 2