Hardness and Roughness of Overlaid Wood Composites Exposed to a High-Humidity Environment

Abstract

The objective of this experimental study was to evaluate the surface roughness and hardness of laminated wood-based composite panels as a function of exposure to high relative humidity (RH). All samples were conditioned in a room having a temperature of 20 °C and a relative humidity of 65% before the tests were carried out. Surface roughness, Janka hardness and mass change rate of the raw and overlaid samples were determined before and after humidity exposure. The surface of the overlaid samples was also investigated by SEM. The stylus method was used to determine the fluctuations of the surface quality of the raw and overlaid composites. The surface quality and hardness of the samples were influenced by increases of the RH level and exposure time. The mass rate change was higher for the raw samples compared with the overlaid ones. The findings of this study can be applied to improve production techniques in furniture manufacturing and to enhance the use of overlaid composite panels.