Laminated veneer lumber from Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia Lipsky)

Abstract

This study was designed to determine some physical and mechanical properties and surface roughness of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) made from Sorbus aucuparia Lipsky wood which has no detailed research in the literature. The sample trees were taken from the Kure district in Kastamonu, Turkey. The 12 ply LVLs manufactured from 1.6 mm thick rotary peeled veneers and bonded with urea formaldehyde adhesive. Conventional methods followed and the test procedures were performed on small clean specimens. Also, this study involves the comparison of the mechanical properties of LVL made from S. aucuparia Lipsky wood to those of conventional LVLs. It was found that air-dry density, thickness swelling, thermal conductivity, MOR and MOE, compression strength, surface hardness, shear strength and surface roughness (Ra) were 0.737 g/cm(3), 3.63%, 0.2259 W/m-K, 80.6 N/mm(2), 6985.6 N/mm(2), 58.36 N/mm(2), 29.15 N/mm(2), 5.28 N/mm(2) and 5.13 mu m respectively. When S. aucuparia L. wood is used to produce LVL for use in the furniture industry, the resulting physical and mechanical property values are sufficient to produce an acceptable product. Also, it appears to be a suitable alternative to currently used alnus spp. and fagus spp. according to usage area.