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Physical properties of burnt timber, with special focus on the drying performance

Physikalische Eigenschaften von verbranntem Holz, insbesondere in Hinsicht auf das Trocknungsverhalten

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Abstract

Burnt wood has been found to perform different from sound (green) wood when dried together, but also with regards to other physical and mechanical properties. In this study the drying performance of wood burnt to different degrees in recent plantation fires was investigated, and the physical, chemical and wood anatomical properties of these different wood types were determined. Different cell structure and chemical composition due to thermal degradation could be observed as well as different drying performance and variation in mechanical properties. An explanation for the deviant drying performance was attempted with the observed structural changes.

Zusammenfassung

Es wurde festgestellt, dass sich verbranntes Holz oft anders verhält als unbeschädigtes (frisches) Holz, wenn beide Holzarten zusammen getrocknet werden, aber auch in Hinsicht auf physikalische und mechanische Eigenschaften. In diesem Projekt wurde das Trocknungsverhalten von Holz mit unterschiedlich starkem Verbrennungsgrad untersucht und Unterschiede in physikalischen, chemischen und anatomischen Eigenschaften festgestellt. Ein Unterschied in der Zellstruktur und in der chemischen Zusammensetzung, hervorgerufen durch thermische Degradierung, konnte festgestellt werden; ebenso ein Unterschied im Trocknungsverhalten und eine Variation in den mechanischen Eigenschaften. Eine Erklärung für das unterschiedliche Trocknungsverhalten anhand der beobachteten strukturellen Änderungen wurde versucht.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Timbadola sawmill for the provision of green and burnt wood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Martina Meincken, Norman H. Smit & Dieter Steinmann

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  1. Martina Meincken
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  2. Norman H. Smit
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  3. Dieter Steinmann
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Correspondence to Martina Meincken.

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Meincken, M., Smit, N.H. & Steinmann, D. Physical properties of burnt timber, with special focus on the drying performance. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 68, 455–461 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-009-0388-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-009-0388-z

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