THE COLOR MEASUREMENT - A FAST METHOD TO STUDY AND TO OPTIMIZE THE CHEMICAL-TRANSFORMATIONS UNDER-GONE IN THE THERMICALLY TREATED WOOD

The measurement of the CIELAB L*, a*, b*, C*, h*, color variations were performed on the natural and thermically treated wood samples of Pinus sylvestris at the temperature range from 100-degrees-C to 310-degrees-C during 30 or 60 minutes. Correlations were established between colors parameters (lightness L*, chromatic coordinates a*, b*, color differences DELTA-E*, chroma C*, and hue angle h*) and the results of the physicochemical analysis on the wood material (basic density, % CHO, % of insolubles, % of volatile materials). A very important evolution are noticed above the 240-degrees-C level. Thus the good correlations between the color measurement and the chemical contents shows that the color can serve as a fast and non destructive method to determine and to optimise the suitable chemical transformations undergone in the wood with the view to its industrial utilization.