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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) I: changes in hygroscopicity due to heating

Journal of Wood Science volume 52, pages 33–38 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of heating on the hygroscopicity of Japanese cedar wood was investigated as a simple evaluation of thermal degradation in large-dimension timber being kiln-dried at high temperatures (>100°C). Small wood pieces were heated at 120°C in the absence of moisture (dry heating) and steamed at 60°, 90°, and 120°C with saturated water vapor over 2 weeks, and their equilibrium moisture contents (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) were compared with those of unheated samples. No significant change was induced by steaming at 60°C, while heating above 90°C caused loss in weight (WL) and reduction in M of wood. The effects of steaming were greater than those of dry heating at the same heating temperature. After extraction in water, the steamed wood showed additional WL and slight increase in M because of the loss of water-soluble decomposition residue. The M of heated wood decreased with increasing WL, and such a correlation became clearer after the extraction in water. On the basis of experimental correlation, the WL of local parts in large-dimension kiln-dried timber was evaluated from their M values. The results indicated that the thermal degradation of inner parts was greater than that of outer parts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 305-8572, Japan

    Eiichi Obataya & Shuichi Doi

  2. Institute of Wood Technology, Akita Prefectural University, Kaieizaka, Noshiro, 016-0876, Japan

    Sakae Shibutani & Kensuke Hanata

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  1. Eiichi Obataya
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  2. Sakae Shibutani
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  3. Kensuke Hanata
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  4. Shuichi Doi
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Correspondence to Eiichi Obataya.

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Obataya, E., Shibutani, S., Hanata, K. et al. Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) I: changes in hygroscopicity due to heating. J Wood Sci 52, 33–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0716-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0716-9

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