Study on the Pyrolysis Kinetics Characteristics of the Wood from the Ancient Buildings

Research reveals that the pyrolysis behavior of wood from the Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lhasa, China, varies significantly among three species: Pinus koraiensis, hemlock, and spruce. The study found that Pinus koraiensis lignin has the highest degradation activation energy (218 kJ/mol), making it the most resistant to thermal breakdown, followed by spruce (188 kJ/mol) and hemlock (146 kJ/mol). This ranking suggests a clear hierarchy in thermal stability among these woods, with Pinus koraiensis being the hardest to degrade. The findings were derived using thermogravimetric analysis combined with the Kissinger method, offering insights into the preservation challenges of ancient wooden structures under thermal stress.

Zhang, X., & Zhang, F. (2012). Study on the Pyrolysis Kinetics Characteristics of the Wood from the Ancient Buildings. Advanced Materials Research, 568, 13–16. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.568.13