Drying behaviour and permeability of eucalyptus grandis lumber

Ivaldo P.  Jankowsky; Gilson Roberto V.   dos Santos

Drying behaviour and permeability of eucalyptus grandis lumber

Autores

Ivaldo P. Jankowsky

Gilson Roberto V. dos Santos

Editor

Universidad del Bío Bío

Descripción

Although the increasing economic importance of Eucalyptus lumber to furniture and other valueadded products manufacturing, its industrial use is still small. One of the main reasons is the difficultyto dry the lumber and related loses of row material. There is a general recommendation in literature touse a low drying rate in initial stages of the process, and changing to a more aggressive drying afterremoval of liquid water from the lumber. According classical theory about drying of porous material,this point should coincide with the predominance of diffusion phenomena in the moisture movement;which could be determined through the characteristic drying curve of the material. With the objective toget better knowledge about the drying of Eucalyptus grandis lumber, its characteristic drying curve wasdetermined, and the results proved that Eucalyptus grandis lumber is not permeable to liquid flow.Based on its characteristic drying curve, it is possible to suggest the change of drying conditions whenlumber moisture content, dry basis, is between 35% and 40%, then starting a more aggressive drying.