High Temperature Drying Process of Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) with Different Zones of Sapwood and Red False Heartwood

Abstract

This study examined the changes in the properties of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) after intense drying. Beech wood with false red heartwood was selected as the test specimen. The test samples had dimensions of 50 mm thickness, 180 mm width, and 350 mm length. The specimens were divided into two groups, false red heartwood and sapwood. These specimens were selected with different angles of the growth rings (radial and tangential). The results showed that samples with red heartwood, in comparison to samples with sapwood content, had a remarkable effect in covering. Observation of specimens with false red heartwood and sapwood before and after drying process revealed significant differences in color changes and measured values during the covering-slicing test, but not between samples with different growth ring angles.

Analysis of the Effects of Drying Process of Red False Heartwood and Mature Wood on the Quality and Physical Properties of Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.)

“…At the end of the drying process, the temperatures of the compared samples were equal and approximately 3 °C lower than the temperature of the drying environment. The present observations were consistent with those of Nečesaný (1958), Kúdela and Čunderlík (2012), and Barański et al (2017). An evaluation of the quality was made on the basis of a comparison of the measured values of moisture gradients and the size of the casehardening that was assessed by prong tests.…”

“…Beech wood is mainly used for furniture, packaging, plywood, and decorative veneer. Heartwood formation, in general, is associated with the breaking down of the water transport system and decreasing vitality of the parenchyma tissues (Nečesaný 1958;Kúdela and Čunderlík 2012;Barański et al 2017). The theory of red false heartwood formation in beech wood is based on research by Nečesaný (1958).…”

“…Red false heartwood also remarkably reduces the permeability of wood for liquid (Račko and Čunderlík 2010). The cited works of Barański et al (2017) and Siau (1984) show that the relationship between drying different qualities of beech wood is remarkable in the free water domain. The structure of the red false heartwood noticeably affects the amount of tyloses in cells, which remarkably reduces the kinetics of water movement (Siau 1995).…”

Color Characteristics of Red False Heartwood and Mature Wood of Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Determining by Different Chromacity Coordinates

“…This wood type has a large number of defects such as red heartwood, reaction wood (i.e., tension wood) and dote and so forth [1,2]. Red false heartwood formation, in general, is associated with the breaking down of the water transport system and decreasing vitality of the parenchyma tissues [3,4]. The phenomenon of beech red false heartwood considerably affecting the quality of logs and timbers has been an area of professional and scientific interest for more than 100 years [5,6].…”

“…The drying conditions can affect the intensity of color change. The color of wood characterizes the appearance of wood and is determined by chemical compounds cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin and extractives [4,9]. Thus, high temperature drying of wood is a special process of drying characterized by applying the high temperature (temperature above 100 • C).…”