The influence of wood components and cellulose crystallinity on the thermal degradation behavior of different wood species has been investigated using thermogravimetry, chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. Four wood samples, Pinus elliottii (PIE), Eucalyptus grandis (EUG), Mezilaurus itauba (ITA) and Dipteryx odorata (DIP) were used in this study. The results showed that higher extractives contents associated with lower crystallinity and lower cellulose crystallite size can accelerate the degradation process and reduce the wood thermal stability. On the other hand, the thermal decomposition of wood shifted to higher temperatures with increasing wood cellulose crystallinity and crystallite size. These results indicated that the cellulose crystallite size affects the thermal degradation temperature of wood species. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.