Intra-species variation in maximum moisture content, cell-wall density and porosity of hardwoods

Guillermo Riesco Muñoz; José Ángel Pulgar Lorenzo

doi:10.1515/hf-2022-0042

Article

Intra-species variation in maximum moisture content, cell-wall density and porosity of hardwoods

Published/Copyright: October 26, 2022

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From the journal Holzforschung Volume 76 Issue 11-12

Abstract

Some properties of wood, such as maximum moisture content, cell-wall density and porosity, are not well known, even though they affect the performance of chemical preservatives, glues and coatings on wood. This knowledge gap was addressed in the present study by analysing these physical properties in laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) wood. Laurel is a common hardwood tree in southern Europe. Seventeen laurel trees were felled for the study, and 300 defect-free specimens were obtained from the trees for analysis. The following mean values were obtained: wood maximum moisture content, 114%; cell-wall oven-dry density, 1198 kg m⁻³; and oven-dry wood porosity, 45%. Significant inter- and intra-tree variations in the three properties were observed. The inter-tree variation was mainly attributed to the tree age, and the trend suggests that wood maximum moisture content and porosity are expected to be lower in older trees than those under study. The values of the three properties were slightly, but statistically significantly, lower at the highest positions in the tree. Harvesting of the basal logs of young trees is therefore advisable only if more porous wood is required, and commercial exploitation of the whole trunk of mature trees is recommended if more compact wood is required. The variation in cell-wall density was not negligible, although this variable is often assumed to be approximately constant for all wood species. Maximum moisture content and wood porosity can be estimated using bulk or apparent density as a predictor variable.

Keywords: hardwood; Laurus nobilis ; physical property; wood technology

Corresponding author: Guillermo Riesco Muñoz, Departamento de Enxeñaría Agroforestal, Escola Politécnica Superior de Enxeñaría, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Universitario s/n. 27002, Lugo, Spain, E-mail: guillermo.riesco@usc.es

Funding source: Regional Government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia)

Award Identifier / Grant number: GRC2014/015

Author contributions: All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by José Ángel Pulgar Lorenzo. Analyses were conducted by Guillermo Riesco Muñoz and José Ángel Pulgar Lorenzo. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Guillermo Riesco Muñoz, and both authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Research funding: Funding for this research was received from the Regional Government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia), through grant GRC2014/015 for competitive reference research groups, and from the ERDF.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
Availability of data and material (data transparency): Not applicable.
Code availability (software application or custom code): Not applicable.
Additional declarations for articles in life science journals that report the results of studies involving humans and/or animals: Not applicable.
Ethics approval (include appropriate approvals or waivers): Not applicable.

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Received: 2022-03-04

Accepted: 2022-09-28

Published Online: 2022-10-26

Published in Print: 2022-12-16

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2022-0042

Keywords for this article

hardwood; Laurus nobilis; physical property; wood technology