Effect of steam explosion treatments on drying rates and moisture distributions during radio-frequency/vacuum drying of larch pillar combined with a longitudinal kerf

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of steam explosion treatment on drying rates, moisture distribution, shrinking, and checking during radio-frequency/vacuum drying of Korean larch pillar combined with a longitudinal kerf. All the pillars except the nonkerf/control with high initial moisture content (MC) could be dried within 89 h from the green condition to about 15% MC. In pillars with high initial moistures or in the early stage of drying, the drying rates were sharply accelerated by steam explosion treatments. The final moisture gradients along the transverse direction were gentler for the steamexploded pillars and for pillars with a longitudinal kerf, respectively, than for the unexploded pillars and for pillars without a longitudinal kerf. The moisture gradients along the longitudinal direction on all the layers were gentler for the pillars with a longitudinal kerf than for those without the kerf. Formation of checking was significantly controlled in the pillars with a longitudinal kerf. All the steam-exploded pillars except the kerf/1-cycle, however, were more severely damaged by checks than the unexploded pillars. A prong test revealed an extremely low level of residual stress for all the dried pillars.     

Effect of external compressive load on tangential strain behavior in Japanese larch log cross sections during radio-frequency/vacuum drying

This study investigated the effect of a compressive load of 0.092 MPa on the history of the tangential strains in Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis Gordon) log cross sections subjected to external compressive load during radio-frequency/vacuum drying. The external compressive load of 0.092 MPa played a role in inducing cracking in the outer zone of the log cross section, combining with other tensile strains. However, it also played a role in reducing the heart checks in the core of log cross section when exerted on the cross section of log cross section.     

Effect of drying method as a pretreatment on CUAZ preservative impregnation in Japanese cedar logs

Green Japanese cedar logs 2 m in length and 18 cm in diameter were dried to a mean moisture content of less than 30% by either air drying or kiln drying. Dried logs were impregnated with copper azole (CUAZ) solution according to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) A9002. Preservative absorption was calculated from the log weight before and after preservative impregnation. Impregnated logs were then dried in the air and cut at the center to determine preservative penetration. The penetration area was determined after visualizing the preservative with chrome azurol S. The visualized area indicated that the preservative solution penetrated into the sapwood portion of almost all the air-dried logs. However, the kiln-dried logs did not show full penetration into the sapwood portion. The visualized area of some kiln-dried sapwood showed a penetration value of less than 80%, which is the minimum requirement set by the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for sawn timber. Statistical analysis showed that penetration in the air-dried sapwood was significantly better than that in the kiln-dried sapwood. It was concluded that air drying is more favorable than kiln drying as the predrying method for CUAZ impregnation. On the other hand, preservative absorption was not affected by the drying method.     

Effect of steam pretreatment on wood moisture content and characteristics of vacuum drying

The effects of high temperature steam pretreatment on the change in wood moisture content (MC) and characteristics of vacuum drying were investigated in this study. Poplar and manchurian walnut woods were pretreated with high temperature steam at 100°C and 140°C, prior to vacuum drying. A comparison of the characteristics of vacuum drying between steam pretreated wood and untreated wood was carried out. The results show that during steam pretreatment, the MC of wood decreased within a few hours. The reduction of MC varied with the temperature; the higher the temperature, the faster the MC dropped. During the vacuum drying stage, the rates of drying of pretreated samples were higher than those of untreated samples when MC was below the fiber saturation point. Furthermore, the total drying time of samples treated at a steam temperature of 140°C was lower than that of untreated samples. Therefore, a vacuum procedure after steam pretreatment can effectively shorten the drying time when drying wood.     

Effect of compressive load on the dimensional changes of the Japanese larch dried in a radio-frequency/vacuum drier

This study investigated the effect of a compressive load of 0.092 MPa on the dimensional changes of Japanese larch in a humidity chamber after continuous radio-frequency/vacuum drying. The dimensional changes in the loading directions were significantly increased while those perpendicular to the loading directions were decreased. The shrinkages showed higher values in continuous drying than in intermittent drying. For the specimens loaded on their tangential sections, the radial shrinkages were even higher than the tangential shrinkages; thus, the tangential/radial shrinkage ratio was decreased by 0.27. The transverse hygroscopicity was reduced for the specimens loaded on their cross sections, but increased for the specimens loaded on their tangential sections.     

四种景天属植物高温高湿下的耐湿热性

选择4种景天属植物,研究其在高温高湿胁迫下的形态特征、生理生化变化及其适应高温高湿的机理。结果表明:随胁迫时间延长,植物叶片细胞膜透性增大,叶绿素总量有明显上升又下降趋势,可溶性蛋白含量下降,保护酶系统的平衡受到破坏,膜脂过氧化程度加重,PRO含量总体呈上升趋势。由主成分分析和隶属函数法得出耐湿热胁迫能力大小为:凹叶景天>胭脂红景天>中华景天>金叶景天。     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) I: changes in hygroscopicity due to heating

The effect of heating on the hygroscopicity of Japanese cedar wood was investigated as a simple evaluation of thermal degradation in large-dimension timber being kiln-dried at high temperatures (>100°C). Small wood pieces were heated at 120°C in the absence of moisture (dry heating) and steamed at 60°, 90°, and 120°C with saturated water vapor over 2 weeks, and their equilibrium moisture contents (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) were compared with those of unheated samples. No significant change was induced by steaming at 60°C, while heating above 90°C caused loss in weight (WL) and reduction in M of wood. The effects of steaming were greater than those of dry heating at the same heating temperature. After extraction in water, the steamed wood showed additional WL and slight increase in M because of the loss of water-soluble decomposition residue. The M of heated wood decreased with increasing WL, and such a correlation became clearer after the extraction in water. On the basis of experimental correlation, the WL of local parts in large-dimension kiln-dried timber was evaluated from their M values. The results indicated that the thermal degradation of inner parts was greater than that of outer parts.     

Comparison of moisture distribution along radial direction in a log cross section of heartwood and mixed sapwood and heartwood during radio-frequency/vacuum drying

The purpose of this study was to compare the distribution of moisture contents (MCs) along the radial direction during radio-frequency/vacuum (RF/V) drying of log cross sections of heartwood (HLC) where sapwood was removed from a green log cross section and log cross section of mixed sapwood and heartwood (MLC) prepared with debarked logs of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) and locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). For Japanese larch, an even distribution of MC was observed over the entire cross section in HLC not only at the initial stage of drying but also up to the completion of drying. Furthermore, the moisture gradient between the outermost slice and the adjacent inner slice was more gradual compared with that in MLC. For locust, the moisture gradient between the outermost slice and the adjacent inner slice became severe as drying progressed. It decreased after reaching the maximum during the middle stage of drying but continued until the late stage of drying. Furthermore, despite the fact that the average initial MC of mixed slice within MLC was higher compared with that in heartwood slice, this trend reversed immediately after drying started. It was suggested that the possibility of formation of border checking would be high during drying the MLC, since it would be so complicate that the sapwood and heartwood reach fiber saturation point together because of differences in their green MCs and permeability between them.     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) II: Changes in mechanical properties due to heating

Japanese cedar wood specimens were steamed at 80°, 100°, and 120°C over 14 days, and their equilibrium moisture content (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity, longitudinal dynamic Young’s modulus (E), bending strength (σ _max), and breaking strain (ε _max) were compared with those of unheated specimens. Steaming for a longer duration at a higher temperature resulted in a greater reduction in M, σ _max, and ε _max. The E of wood was slightly enhanced by steaming at 100°C for 1–4 days and 120°C for 1–2 days, and thereafter it decreased. The slight increase in the E of sapwood was attributable to the reduction in hygroscopicity, while sufficient explanation was not given for a greater increase in the heartwood stiffness. Irrespective of the steaming temperature, the correlations between M and the mechanical properties of steamed wood were expressed in terms of simple curves. M values above 8% indicated a slight reduction in E and s max, whereas M values below 8% indicated a marked decrease in the mechanical performances. In addition, the e max decreased almost linearly with a decrease in the value of M. These results suggest that hygroscopicity measurement enables the evaluation of degradation in the mechanical performances of wood caused by steaming at high temperatures.     

Psychometric charts for use with normal and high temperature drying of wood

Kiln drying of timber sometimes makes use of air at well above 100 °C and at very high humidities. The psychometric charts of Carrier and Mollier do not normally accommodate such air states and so they are not useful. Charts are given herein which use the axes ln r and ln p_s where r is the relative humidity and p_s is the pressure of water vapour at saturation. Such charts accommodate the above conditions without difficulty and fit tidily onto a rectangular sheet. The values of p_s are not shown but they are expressed as a function of dry-bulb temperature, which is shown on the charts. Charts are given for normal and high temperature ranges, and to display different properties we have chosen to use separate charts rather than to fit too much information on a single chart. Received 8 May 2000     

Raman spectroscopic study on pyrolyzed wood and bark of Japanese cedar: temperature dependence of Raman parameters

 Raman spectra were measured for Japanese cedar wood and bark pyrolyzed in a nitrogen atmosphere at various temperatures (200°–1100°C). Two characteristic bands, near 1340 and 1590 cm⁻¹, denoted as the D-band and G-band due to graphitic carbon, respectively, appeared on all the spectra; and the spectral features changed markedly with increasing heat-treatment temperature (HTT). The Raman parameters (band position, band width, D/G ratio) of the bands were deconvolved using of a curve-fitting method. There was no significant difference in the values of the parameters between the wood and bark. The D-band position and the G-band width showed a marked HTT dependence in the region of 400°–800°C. We described the correlations of the Raman parameters with HTT and investigated the availability of Raman spectroscopy as a means for evaluating HTT. Received: January 28, 2002 / Accepted: June 14, 2002     

Effect of end-taping and removal of sapwood on radial distribution of moisture content and tangential strains during radio-frequency/vacuum drying of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cedrela sinsensis</Emphasis> log cross sections

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of end-taping of sapwood (ETS) and removal of sapwood (ROS) treatments of log cross sections on the radial distributions of moisture content (MC) and tangential strain, according to the circumferential slicing method (CSM), during radio-frequency/vacuum (RF/V) drying of log cross sections. The MC of control and ETS samples showed an even distribution around the center but decreased closer to the periphery side. In ROS samples, the MC decreased closer to the periphery side when above the hygroscopic range but showed an even distribution at the late stage of drying. Tangential strain in ETS samples showed slight compressive stress or tensile stress through the entire area of the cross section during the initial stage of drying, although the periphery side was in tensile stress from an area starting at a relative radius of 0.7. ROS samples showed tensile stress in the heartwood around the center and the heartwood of the periphery side and showed no stress or slight compressive stress in the middle area at the initial stage of drying, after which it showed an even distribution of tensile stress throughout the entire end surface. About 90% of the total checks contained in ETS and ROS samples were observed on the periphery side starting from a relative radius of 0.7.     

Effects of time,temperature, and humidity on acetaldehyde emission from wood-based materials

Acetaldehyde emissions from particleboard, fiberboard, and plywood were studied using the small chamber method and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The chamber tests were conducted for 1 month to examine the time dependence of acetaldehyde emission. Effects of temperature and relative humidity were also examined. Acetaldehyde emissions from these wood-based materials decreased rapidly and their behavior could be described by an exponential function or by the sum of two exponential functions. This result suggests that in an adequately ventilated atmosphere, the acetaldehyde emission factor decreases quickly following the board’s production. Under fixed absolute humidity conditions, the initial acetaldehyde emission factor was larger under higher temperature conditions, but tended to show almost the same value after 14 days. This suggests that higher temperatures promote higher initial concentrations and a faster decline of acetaldehyde. A semi-empirical linear equation was obtained for the early stage relationship between the emission factor and temperature. Under fixed temperature conditions, higher relative humidity caused a larger acetaldehyde emission factor throughout the testing period, and it did not result in a significantly faster decline in emissions. The relationship between acetaldehyde emission and relative humidity can be described using an exponential function.     

Effects of temperature,relative humidity and time on survival of pinewood nematodes in wood chips

The survival of two Canadian isolates of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in coniferous wood chips under different temperatures, relative humidities and time intervals was investigated in vitro. The nature of the survival mechanism was examined and it was shown that the nematode's prolonged survival in the chips depended on its dispersal third larval stage. The possibility of PWN-infested wood chips spreading PWN-induced pine-wilt disease to forests is discussed.     

Laboratory investigations on the developmental rate at low relative humidity and the developmental temperature limit ofPagiocerus frontalis (fab.) (col., scolytidae) at high and low temperatures

Pagiocerus frontalis produced offspring on maize between 13°C and 30°C. Below and above these temperatures development was not completed. The optimum developmental temperature was 25°C.P. frontalis was able to produce F₁ between 20% and 75% r.h. though the mortality at lower rel. humidities was high.     

Effect of EMC and air in wood on the new in-process moisture content monitoring concept under radiofrequency/vacuum (RF/V) drying

To improve the accuracy of the new in-process moisture content (MC) monitoring concept under radiofrequency/vacuum (RF/V) drying, equilibrium moisture content (EMC) tests were carried out under various ambient pressures, and pressure curves in wood were analyzed during chamber evacuation and heating phases. The results showed that EMC increased with a decrease in ambient pressure regardless of temperature, relative humidity (RH), and species. The accuracy of MC estimation for Hinoki under RF/V drying was improved from 1.5% maximum absolute errors to 0.6% after EMC modification. The pressure curves for Hinoki and Sugi under RF/V drying showed similar tendencies to an idealized process. Russian larch showed different curves, indicating that the pressure in the wood did not reach the ambient pressure because of its low permeability. Therefore, MC could not be estimated using this monitoring concept because of the presence of much air in the wood of Russian larch.     

Hydrogasification of wood for high heating-value gas production X: Effect of pretreatment of Japanese oak bark by HNO3 oxidation on subsequent iron-catalyzed hydrogasification

Japanese oak bark, which is one of the most difficult woody biomass materials for iron-catalyzed lowtemperature (<700°C) hydrogasification, was subjected to HNO₃ oxidation as the pretreatment after prewashing with water. The effect was compared with that of HCl demineralization from four points of view: (1) removal of catalyst poisons; (2) development of porosity in the cell tissue; (3) introduction of ion-exchanged iron; and (4) reduction of nitrogen and sulfur. It was found that HNO₃-oxidized oak bark char loaded with iron by the ion-exchange method gave a satisfactory reactivity in agreement with the corresponding larch bark char previously used. Also, the oak bark char contained only small amounts of nitrogen and sulfur. These situations confirmed the high suitability of oxidation pretreatment combined with water prewashing for woody biomass.     

Effect of cross-sectional dimensions on bow and surface checking of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) boxed-heart square timber dried by conventional kiln drying

The effect of cross-sectional dimensions on bow and surface checking were investigated, using the boxed-heart square timber of two sugi cultivars with dimensions 80, 120, and 140 mm and length 1.9 m taken at two different heights above the ground. The smaller cross-sectional timber tended to have larger bow, less surface checking, and larger dimensional shrinkage. However, the drying defects were different between the cultivars and sampling heights, depending on the shrinkage properties of the juvenile wood and the heartwood proportion in the core part of the stem. The bow was larger in the smaller cross-sectional timber in which the longitudinal shrinkage was large in the juvenile wood. Surface checking was more prominent in larger cross-sectional timber containing sapwood in its outer part, which suggested the surface checking was induced by drying stress, owing to large moisture gradients between the heartwood and sapwood. The cross-dimensional shrinkage of the timber was larger in timber with larger tangential shrinkage.     

Effect of post treatment temperature and humidity conditions on fixation performance of CCA-C treated red pine and southern pine

introductionWaterbornepreservativesareamajorcomponentofthewood-treatingindustrybecauseoftheireaseofapplication,lowcost,andthecleanappearanceofthewoodattertreatment.Theuseofchromatedcopperarsenate(CCA)preservativesintheUSAhasgrownfroma14%shareofthewoodpreservativesmarketin1977to73%in1987(Micklewright1993).ThisismainlyduetotheincreasinguseofCCAtreatedwoodasdecksandoutdoorstructures.ThewaterbornepreservativeCCAhasbecomeoneofthemosteffectivetreatmentsforNorthAmericanwoodproduCts,usedinapplic…     

南京地区极端低温对常绿绿化树种景观的影响及分析

通过调查2004年冬季南京市7个不同地域常绿绿化树种所发生的冻害情况,分析了该地当年温度、降水等气候因子变化对常绿绿化树种景观效果的影响.