Study on drying technology of Betula alnoides Buch. Ham

Abstract

Wood drying is an important stage the manufacturing process, especially for the fast - growing species like Betula alnoides Buch. Ham. This study investigated appropriate drying technology applied for Betula alnoides Buch. Ham wood, which is fast - growing tree with high internal stress and potential wood - drying defects. The result showed that the percentage of wood checks and splits is rather high (3.44%) at drying temperature of 60 - 80oC. This value is equivalent to Paulownia wood and Eucalyptus wood. However, this value decreased significantly to 1.24% and 1.44% at drying temperature of 40 - 60oC and 50 - 70oC, respectively. The results also revealed that the degree of wood warping was similar in all three drying classes. The drying time of the Betula alnoides Buch. Ham wood at 50 - 70oC was 76 hours, shorter than that at 40 -60oC. This drying procedure can be practically applied for dying of Betula alnoides Buch. Ham wood.