Abstract
A three-dimensional molding method has been developed to make wood an alternative resource of plastics. This method is an unprecedented way of wood processing which uses deep-draw wood molding. To establish this method, development of stretchable and flexible semi-fixed compressed wood which provides optimum properties for three-dimensional molding by deep drawing, and clarification of its best fabricating steaming conditions are necessary. In this study, semi-fixed compressed woods were fabricated from Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa under various temperature and time conditions, and their mechanical properties were examined. The results indicated that the best steaming conditions for Cryptomeria japonica were 2-hour preliminary softening at 110°C, followed by 1-hour softening at 150°C which provided 97.8% elongation. For Chamaecyparis obtusa, it was 2-hour preliminary softening at 110°C, followed by 1-hour softening at 140°C which provided 107.4% elongation.
