This study evaluates the microscopic changes of paulownia solid wood panels subjected to
thermal compression via characterizing the changes in wood microstructure. The panels,
with dimensions of 500 mm× 100 mm× 20 mm, were hot-pressed in a tangential direction by
using a laboratorytype hot press at a temperature of either 150 C or 170 C and a pressure of
2 MPa for 45 min. Microscopic investigations conducted by light microscopy showed that
slightly more damage occurred in the samples compressed at 170 C and 2 MPa than at 150 …