Experimental study of the effect of a laser beam on the morphology of wood surfaces

The study reports on fundamental aspects of modification of wood by using a laser beam and relates different parameters such as wavelength lambda, pulse duration tau(ind P), repetition rate F, and intensity E and focus to the surface morphology that presents melting processes that can be seen from microscopic observations (SEM). The penetration of water into laser treated surfaces is considerably suppressed. It is thought that the modification of wooden surfaces by laser beam represents a fundamental technology with many potential applications.