Case hardening is an often misunderstood subject in the timber trade.
It is defined as:
“a condition of stress and set in dry timber characterised by compressive stress in the outer layers and tensile stresses in the inner layers. An imbalance of stresses.”
It is important to remember that:
· Wood shrinks once below Fibre Saturation Point (FSP).
· Wood dries from the surface inwards – so the outer regions of a piece of wood can become appreciably drier (and therefore shrink more) before the inner regions.
(The following diagrams show the stresses developing in the cross-
During the drying process a sequence of events may occur:
1) The surface regions dry to a moisture content below FSP before the inner regions .... but the surface regions cannot shrink because they are restrained by the still swollen inner regions. SO THE SURFACE REGIONS GO INTO TENSION AND THE INNER REGIONS ARE PUT INTO COMPRESSION:
Tension (T) and compression (C) regions in drying timber
Now if the drying conditions are not too severe this causes no problem, because these stresses are relieved once the inner regions start to dry and shrink.
But if drying is carried out too rapidly…
2) The surface regions may dry out in their stretched condition.
3) When the inner regions (only now) start to dry, they attempt to shrink, but they
can’t -
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Case hardened timber in cross section
Case hardened timber will cup on re-
If noticed, case hardening can be rectified by steaming in the kiln: the humidity of the air in the kiln is greatly increased so that the surface regions gain moisture and swell. Now the stresses will disappear.
However, if the surface regions get too moist they attempt to swell too much! Another
stress reversal occurs and another defect is produced – this is termed “reverse case
hardening”:-
Reverse case hardened timber in cross section
To avoid these problems of case hardening it is important to check for the development of stresses in the timber as it is drying...
Next Page: Avoiding Case Hardening.
Reasons to Dry Timber: An Introduction to Timber Drying
Timber Drying -
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
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
Avoiding Case Hardening by Monitoring the Drying of Timber. Also Collapse & Staining of Timber