Ivan Tomaselli

Effect of steam thermal treatment on the drying process of Eucalyptus dunnii variables

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of steam treatment prior to drying on the initial moisture content, moisture gradient, and drying rate in Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden wood. Boards were steamed at 100oC for 3 h after 1 h of heating-up. Part of these boards was dried in a drying electric oven at 50oC, and part was dried at kiln. The results showed that the steaming prior to drying of wood: (1) significantly reduced by 9.2% the initial moisture content; (2) significantly increased by 6.2% the drying rate; (3) significantly decreased by 15.6 and 14.8% the moisture gradient between the outer layer and the center of boards and between the outer and intermediate layers of boards, respectively. Steamed boards when dried in an oven showed drying rate of 0.007065 whereas in kiln were 0.008200 and 0.034300 from green to 17 and 17 to 12% moisture content, respectively. It was demonstrated that the steaming prior to drying can be suitable for reduces the drying times of this kind of wood.

Efeito do tempo e da temperatura de modificação térmica na redução do inchamento máximo da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden

Thermal rectification of wood was developed in the decade of 1940 and has been largely studied and produced in Europe. In Brazil, the research about this technique is still little and sparse, but it has gained attention nowadays. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of time and temperature of rectification on the reduction of maximum swelling of Eucalyptus grandis wood. According to the results obtained it is possible to achieve reductions of about 50% on the maximum volumetric swelling of Eucalyptus grandis wood. Best results were obtained for 230°C of thermal rectification rather than 200°C. The factor temperature was more significant than time, once that there was no significant difference between the times used (1, 2 and 3 hours). There was no significant interaction between the factors time and temperature.