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Microwave treatment of Eucalyptus macrorhyncha timber for reducing drying defects and its impact on physical and mechanical wood properties

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Abstract

Microwave is a useful and proven tool for increasing permeability of refractory wood and, thereby, it can be used for reducing drying time and defects. However, strength loss is always a concern. In this study, green timber boards were treated with microwave in two intensities, low microwave (LMW), 89 kWh/m3, and high microwave (HMW), 95 kWh/m3, and compared with control boards. Samples of all three treatments were kiln dried together. Density and selected mechanical properties were also assessed after drying. LMW, the treatment which presented the best results, showed reduction in some drying defects, such as collapse (20%), surface check length (84%), internal check length (50%) and internal check width (70%). Density, MOE and MOR on static bending were unchanged, whereas reductions in shear strength (13%) and compression strength parallel to grain (10%) were observed. HMW, on the other hand, produced higher strength reductions and more drying defects than LMW. Fine adjustments of LMW microwave power might bring drying benefits without strength losses.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The University of São Paulo and The University of Melbourne. The authors also acknowledge great contributions provided during wood drying experiments by Mr. Rob Rule and his team at the Timber Training Centre Creswick and Mr. Gerry Harris, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, for suggestions made during the project planning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Escola Superior de Agricultura ‘Luiz de Queiroz’, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, São Paulo, CEP:13418-900, Brazil

    Bruno Monteiro Balboni & José Nivaldo Garcia

  2. School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Vic, 3121, Australia

    Barbara Ozarska

  3. School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Creswick Campus, 4 Water St., Creswick, Vic, 3363, Australia

    Grigory Torgovnikov

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  1. Bruno Monteiro Balboni
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  2. Barbara Ozarska
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  3. José Nivaldo Garcia
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  4. Grigory Torgovnikov
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Correspondence to Bruno Monteiro Balboni.

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Balboni, B.M., Ozarska, B., Garcia, J.N. et al. Microwave treatment of Eucalyptus macrorhyncha timber for reducing drying defects and its impact on physical and mechanical wood properties. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 76, 861–870 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-017-1260-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-017-1260-1

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