Drying and Using Properties of Chestnut Wood

Abstract

Drying is a process, which removes the water from the wood aiming maximum wood quality and minimum drying time and costs. Even though there are a number of commercial drying methods, technical drying methods are mostly used in the wood products industry. The most used technical drying method is also kiln drying (classical or conventional) method where drying schedules generally contain 4 steps: heating, drying, conditioning, and cooling. Principally in the drying chamber, air-water vapor mixture is used in ambient temperature of maximum 100 degrees C. On the other hand, chestnut is performed by two species named American (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) and Anatolian (Castanea sativa Mill.) chestnut and its wood is used for indoor and outdoor applications in Turkey because of its appearance and using properties. The raw materials from this tree species are needed drying to the final moisture content with regard to its using area. The aim of this study was to evaluate drying properties and drying schedules of chestnut wood and also give some information about its using areas related to its technological properties. In the study, various proper drying schedules based on lumber thickness were given and discussed. It is obvious that more protective drying conditions are needed in drying of C. sativa wood because of its higher density than C. dentata. Moreover it is clear that the temperatures are lower and equilibrium moisture contents are higher for C. sativa in the drying schedules when compared to C. dentata. Especially against collapse and inner checks, ambient temperature must be 43 degrees C at most until fiber saturation point in drying of C. sativa lumber while higher temperatures such as 54 degrees C can be applied for C. dentata.