ABSTRACT
Abstract Surface free energy and its components of a viscoelastic thermal compressed (VTC) wood were evaluated by the Lifshitz-van der Waals/acid-base approach and the results compared to those calculated by the OwensWendt-Rabel-Kaelble method. We observed the decrease of the total surface free energy and its dispersion component as a consequence of VTC densification process. The surface free energy values depended on the evaluation method used, so one should consider them only relatively to assess the influence of the densification process. In contrast to increased contact angles of water on VTC wood, the phenol-formaldehyde adhesive exhibited better wetting on VTC wood than on the untreated substrate.
