Eucalyptus plantation wood drying and shrinkage

Author: Jiang Zehui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Eucalyptus is a tree species with fast growth rate, high economic value, and significant ecological and social benefits. Since the 1950s, China has started experimenting with the cultivation of eucalyptus ( is a typo and should be removed) and has gradually promoted it as a primary afforestation species in nearly 10 southern provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government). Currently, China's eucalyptus wood chip exports reach 1 million tons, making it the most profitable tree species in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Wood shrinkage is a drying defect that occurs during wood drying. Macroscopically, it manifests as irregular localized concave depressions on the board surface and irregular shapes on the cross-section, with a significant increase in the shrinkage rate along the wood thickness direction. Microscopically, it typically appears as the collapse of polygonal or circular cells inward, causing the cells to become flattened and narrow. In severe cases, fine cracks may appear on the cell walls. Shrinkage not only increases the wood shrinkage rate and loss but also leads to deformation during drying because it does not occur in all parts of the wood or in all cells of a particular tissue. To rationally utilize eucalyptus wood resources and improve their utilization value, this study primarily explores the relationship between the properties and drying characteristics of eucalyptus wood, and ultimately develops a high-quality and effective drying process. This research fills the gap in domestic eucalyptus wood drying technology research, solves the drying technology challenges of eucalyptus wood, and provides technical support for the high-value utilization of eucalyptus wood. This book primarily discusses the relationship between the properties and drying characteristics of eucalyptus wood and ultimately develops a high-quality and effective drying process.