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Simultaneous drying and densification of silver birch (Betula pendula L.) veneers: analysis of morphology, thickness swelling, and density profile

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Abstract

In this study, birch (Betula pendula L.) veneers were simultaneously densified and dried using a contact drying method at pressures of 1.5 and 3 MPa at 130 °C and compared with veneer dried in a laboratory-scale convective type dryer. Compression rate, thickness swelling, and the density profiles of the veneers were investigated. Furthermore, the microstructure of densified veneers was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A maximum veneer compression rate of 9 % was achieved at a pressure of 3 MPa. Under these conditions, the veneers were, on average, densified from 504 to 574 kg m−3 (approximately 14 %). After water soaking, full set-recovery—recovery to the initial thickness—occurred. However, the swelling rate was lower for the densified veneer. Density profiles measurements showed that densification occurs throughout the veneers. The SEM images showed that the surface of the densified veneers were smoother, whilst no cracks were detected due to densification. Densification seemed to occur in vessels. Typically, rays were bent when there was a vessel nearby.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Energy Efficient Wood Processing and Machining project. This project forms part of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Digitalisation and Energy (MIDE), a research program on digitalisation and energy technology at Aalto University that carries out important long-term projects aimed at creating high-level expertise, strengthening teaching and increasing the competitiveness of Finnish business and industry. Financial support from these sources is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are extended to Mehedi Reza for helping with the SEM images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16400, 00076, Aalto, Finland

    Toni Antikainen, Olli Paajanen, Lauri Rautkari & Mark Hughes

  2. Forest Products Research Institute, Joint Research Institute for Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT, UK

    Lauri Rautkari

  3. Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, Muzejski trg 2, 6000, Koper, Slovenia

    Andreja Kutnar

  4. Department of Wood Science and Engineering, Oregon State University, 119 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Frederick A. Kamke

Authors
  1. Toni Antikainen
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  2. Olli Paajanen
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  3. Lauri Rautkari
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  4. Andreja Kutnar
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  5. Frederick A. Kamke
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  6. Mark Hughes
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Correspondence to Toni Antikainen.

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Antikainen, T., Paajanen, O., Rautkari, L. et al. Simultaneous drying and densification of silver birch (Betula pendula L.) veneers: analysis of morphology, thickness swelling, and density profile. Wood Sci Technol 48, 325–336 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-013-0605-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-013-0605-0

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