The influence of the impregnation process of pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.) samples on the electrical resistance changes and the moisture-content measurement accuracy is presented in this paper. In this study, the resistances of impregnated and nonimpregnated green pine timber harvested from northern Poland were compared. An impregnation method based on a vacuum-pressure chamber was used. Copper salts were applied as the impregnated solutions. The obtained results of the electrical resistance comparison showed a dependence of wood resistance on the moisture content. Higher conductivity occurred in impregnated wood samples filled with copper salt compared with wood samples without impregnation. Noticeable differences in the electrical resistance values were observed when the wood moisture content was significantly above the Fibre Saturation Point (FSP).

The aim of the article is to present the results of moisture content of wood during and after the high-temperature steam and air–steam mixture drying processes and after an open air-drying process. The knowledge of moisture content changes of wood in the process of its drying is one of the important parameters to economy drying process and to keep the quality of dried wood. Wood samples, namely, spruce (Picea abies K.) and beech (Fagus silvatica L.) from the northern part of Poland, were subject to steam, air–steam mixture and, air-drying, respectively, with a temperatures about 105, 80, and 25°C. The samples of thickness 70 mm and length about 1,050 of spruce, and about 1,500 mm of beech were used. They were machined by the modern narrow kerf frame sawing machine. Temperature of the cross section of dried wood was measured by thermocouples, wood moisture content was determined during process using moisture sensors. Measurements of moisture content for steam-dried and air-dried samples, as reference, allowed to reveal the effect of drying process on moisture content of wood. It has been recognized that steam wood drying causes almost constant amount of moisture in treated material in comparison to air-drying one.

Beech wood has a high frequency of defects such as red heartwood, reaction wood (tension wood). For the experimental measurements four logs without visible defects like red heartwood, which can noticeably affects the measurements' results were qualified. The drying medium temperature in the first phase of the process before the moisture content of the specimens fell below the FSP was maintained at 45 °C. Then, the temperature was gradually increased to the maximum value 65 °C. The results showed that different initial wood moisture content does not affect to final value of tension and normal wood. The colorimetric parameter L* was much higher for tension wood. After steaming, there were greater differences in the colorimetric parameters, respectively, a* and b*. After drying the difference of all colorimetric parameters between tension and normal wood was significantly less. The color changes were only noticed in the surface layers of specimens. Differences were small, and thus, the impact of the tension wood on the color changes was not confirmed. However, since the lightness of tension wood plays a key role for its visual detection, it may be adequate to only measure the lightness parameter (L*).

The thermal treatment of wood changes its structure due to the degradation of wood polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin), so the physical properties of wood are either improved or degraded. Color changes apply not only to natural wood, but also to such wood composites for which some amount of glue is used in their construction (e.g., plywood, blockboard or laminboard). This article is focused on the analysis of hornbeam and field maple wood color changes influenced by drying temperature. Two types of drying modes were used: hot-air mode where the temperature of the drying environment was 60 °C, and high-temperature mode with a drying temperature of 120 °C. The drying mode was divided into two phases depending on the moisture content of the wood. The compared woods had similar values of color coordinates at the beginning of drying. During hot-air drying, the largest changes in color coordinates occurred during the first 24 h. The total color difference between the color at the end and the beginning of drying was 7.3 for hornbeam and 11.1 for maple. The overall color difference between the compared woods was minimal. During high-temperature drying (120 °C), the color changes of the dried woods were more pronounced. In the case of maple wood, there was a very significant change in color and the value of ΔE* was twice as high as for hornbeam. The total color difference between the color at the end and at the beginning of drying was 8.7 for hornbeam and 18.9 for maple.

The impact of the full-cell impregnation of pine wood was investigated with respect to changes in electrical resistance and the accuracy of moisture content measurement. This study compared the resistance of impregnated and untreated pine timber harvested from the northern part of Poland (Pomeranian region). The wood was impregnated by the vacuum-pressure method. The preservative (TANALITH E 3475) and coloring (TANATONE 3950) agents were based on copper salts. The results showed a dependence of wood resistance as a function of the moisture content. Impregnated and not treated wood samples were used. This result reflects the greater conductivity of the impregnate solution (based on copper salt) than the water. This phenomenon became more distinctive as moisture content value was above the Fiber Saturation Point (FSP).

The article presents a modification of the existing mathematical model to calculate energy consumption during conventional drying process. Apart from energy consumption, the model permits to estimate the time of high-temperature drying process. The drying medium is air and superheated steam mixture. The obtained calculation results were compared with conducted experimental tests of drying square-edged sawn sapwood timber (Pinus sylvestrisL.). The pine sawn wood samples were dried according to three different drying modes, namely mild, normal and intense. The experiments were performed in a semi-industrial scale drying chamber. On the basis of the experimental research available, existing mathematical models of drying wood have been improved. The developed model included the following changes: a different drying time for each mode and type of drying medium (moisturized air or air and superheated steam mixture). The use of an intensive drying mode significantly reduced the drying process time. The developed mathematical model revealed that the energy consumption of the drying process increases with the intensity of the mode used.