Avoiding Case Hardening by Monitoring the Drying of Timber. Also Collapse & Staining of Timber

Continued from Case Hardening of Timber

The development of stress as timber is dried can be monitored by cutting a “U” shaped prong from the end of one of the boards in the kiln (below, left). Soon the arms of this prong will open out (below right) - this is to be expected since as wood dries the outer areas will be put into tension (and the inner regions into compression):

Cutting a test prong from a board

The prong is then left for 24 hours…

Hopefully the arms will have straightened back out because the stresses in the material were not permanent. Kilning can continue.

But if the prongs are found to have bent inwards:

The result of case hardening on a test prong

Unfortunately the timber has been case hardened! Kilning must be slowed down! We might even have to steam the timber.

..and if:-

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The result of reverse case hardening on a test prong

… the timber is reverse case hardened!

Severe case hardening can cause another serious defect known as Honeycombing. This defect is only visible after resawing when checks are seen in the interior of the boards. Oak, beech and eucalyptus are susceptible to this defect.

Collapse

This defect only arises if an attempt is made to dry wood that is at it’s maximum moisture content. As the air-water menisci recede into cells full of water they must pass through the very fine pores in the “pits” inter-connecting the cells, and this generates high tensile stresses in the water which causes the cells to implode. (the same mechanism is responsible for the “aspiration” – closing – of bordered pits).

The cells are especially prone to collapse if they are at high temperatures (>70°C) when plasticisation of the cell wall material can occur. Collapse can lead to another defect known as:

Wash-boarding

Here evidence of collapse is seen as a corrugation or rippling of the surface of the wood. Oaks, Eucalyptus, Western Red Cedar are prone to collapse, especially if they are grown on very wet sites leading to thin walled, weak cells.

 

To prevent collapse, the wood must be initially dried at cool temperatures (or air-season), since once the cells start to loose water collapse cannot occur. Sometimes it is possible to reform the imploded cells by steaming.

Currently, research is being carried out which aims to generate gas bubbles in the water in the cells so that these bubbles can expand rather than the cells collapsing. This might be achieved by diffusing chemicals (urea) into the wood or causing air bubbles using low pressures or ultrasonics.

Other timber drying defects

Other seasoning defects can be caused by fungal or chemical stains:

Fungal staining

This will occur if suitable conditions arise for sufficient time:

· Blue stain: softwood sapwood.

· Yellow stain: oak, sweet chestnut

Interaction of chemicals

e.g.

· “Ink Spots”: caused by rain dripping off iron roofs onto timber.

· “Water stain” caused by contaminated rain or snow falling onto wood.

 

Also sodium bicarbonate, used to protect timber from fungi, can itself cause a yellow stain.

In these cases the strength of the timber might not be affected - but the value might well be!

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Contents

Reasons to Dry Timber: An Introduction to Timber Drying

 

Timber Drying - Fundamentals Concepts and Definitions

 

Factors controlling the Drying of Wood

 

The Structures of Softwoods and Hardwoods and their effect on Wood Drying

 

An Introduction to the Air Seasoning of Timber

 

Layout of a Timber Drying Yard

 

Design of Stacks in the Timber Drying Yard

 

Kiln Drying of Timber

 

Types of Kiln Drying Equipment

 

Benefits of Kiln Dried Timber production compared to Air Seasoning Timber

 

Using a Dehumidifier to Dry Wood

 

High Temperature Timber Drying

 

Solar Kilns for Drying Timber

 

Drying Defects in Sawn Timber

 

Case Hardening of Timber

 

Avoiding Case Hardening by Monitoring the Drying of Timber. Also Collapse & Staining of Timber