Thermally modified wood

Thermally modified wood, also known as thermodified wood, has been modified using heat to permanently change its properties and make it more durable and stable. The process involves exposing the wood to high temperatures with no chemicals added, which causes natural molecular changes in the wood that reduce its equilibrium moisture content (EMC) to 2-4% and make it water-repellent on a molecular level. This results in a product that is naturally durable and stable, with a reduced risk of mildew, mold, and rot.

Thermodified wood is an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional hardwoods and exotic woods, as it is made from abundant timbers such as pine and spruce that would not have lasted long when used outdoors without thermal modification. The process also improves the wood's dimensional stability, making it less susceptible to warping, cracking, and shrinking due to changes in humidity.

Different types of thermal modification processes exist, including the Plato process and the Cambia thermal modification process, which use different technologies to achieve similar results. The resulting wood has a distinctive chocolate brown colour due to the caramelization of sugars in the wood during the process.