Moisture content variability in kiln-dried Gmelina arborea wood: effect of radial position and anatomical features
2008
Muñoz, Freddy | Moya, Roger
Gmelina arborea is one of the most important species for plantation in tropical areas. However, high variability in final moisture content (MCf) is a problem in the drying process. This study sought to determine the variability in MCf in relation to distance from the pith (DP), and anatomic elements. Boards of 1.2 cm in thickness obtained from bark to the pith from 15-year-old plantation trees were dried in a pilot kiln. Anatomical characteristics, initial moisture content (MCᵢ), and specific gravity (SG) were also determined. Pearson correlation matrix was conducted between MCf and the other variables. DP, fiber length, and ray width were correlated negatively with MCf, while fiber diameter was positively correlated. Other studied anatomical properties showed no statistical correlations. Other wood properties such as SG and MCᵢ showed some influence on MCf. DP can be considered as a good practical predictor for MCf in G. arborea because some wood properties are related to MCf. However, other wood characteristics that are not related with DP also influence MCf, such as the presence of sapwood, MCᵢ variation between and within trees, fiber diameter, and ray width. These results suggest that MCf variation in G. arborea is difficult to determine.
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