Wood Treatment and Properties
Open access
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Eucalyptus globulus is a high-performance hardwood, but its low-permeability heartwood limits preservative penetration and protection against fungal biodeterioration. Microwave (MW) treatment can improve wood permeability, but the resulting microstructural changes may also alter its resistance to biological degradation and mechanical properties. This study investigated the effects of different MW treatment intensities (400W_3min, 400W_25min, and 700W_5min) on the biological durability of E. globulu s heartwood exposed to the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor , with and without copper-azole impregnation. The bending properties were also investigated. Resistance to fungal decay was evaluated according to American Wood Protection Association standard E10, using mass loss as the durability indicator. Mild MW treatment did not affect natural durability, with mass losses of 3.07% and 2.36% for the Reference and 400W_3min groups, respectively. Increasing treatment intensity intensified fungal degradation, raising mass loss to 9.54% after 400W_25min and 18.84% after 700W_5min. Preservative impregnation fundamentally changed this response: MW treatment increased preservative retention by up to 114.3%, while fungal mass loss decreased by up to 91.3% relative to the corresponding unpreserved MW-treated wood. Thus, the same anatomical modifications that increased susceptibility to fungal degradation also enhanced preservative uptake and protection against decay. Mild MW treatment preserved bending strength and stiffness, whereas severe conditions produced significant reductions. Overall, MW treatment exhibited a dual effect on biological durability; severe modification intensified fungal degradation in unprotected wood but markedly enhanced preservative efficacy when used as a pretreatment. Controlling MW intensity is therefore essential to balance protection against fungal decay, preservative performance, and mechanical integrity in refractory hardwoods.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "Influence of microwave treatment on fungal decay, preservative performance, and mechanical integrity of Eucalyptus globulus heartwood" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Wood Treatment and Properties research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Mascarenhas2026Influence,
title = {Influence of microwave treatment on fungal decay, preservative performance, and mechanical integrity of Eucalyptus globulus heartwood},
author = {Fernando Júnior Resende Mascarenhas and Juarez Benigno Paes and Alfredo Manuel Pereira Geraldes Dias and André Luis Christoforo and Rogério Manuel Santos Simões and Flávia Maria Silva Brito and Glaucileide Ferreira and Rodolpho Stephan Santos Braga},
journal = {International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.ibiod.2026.106495},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2026.106495}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Wood Treatment and Properties research papers?
Follow Wood Treatment and Properties research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for Influence of microwave treatment on fungal decay, preservative performance, and mechanical integrity of Eucalyptus globulus heartwood. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app