Effect of Moisture Content and Wood Structure on the Amenability of Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) to Liquid Treatment

This paper explains the effects of wood drying on treatability (as determined by water uptake) of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) at the sevenmoisture content (MC) levels above and below the fiber saturation point (FSP). According to the experimental results, it was found that water uptake (as the percentage of void volume filledwith distilled water, VVF%) was influenced by level of moisture content and percentage of void volume filled was improved effectively by kiln drying process. A significant relationship between moisture content and treatability was established. Permeability and liquid uptake were decreased above the FSP due to the effect of the less void space available in wood. Even though increased liquid uptake was observed at lower moisture content, no significant differences was observed moisture content below 20%. Therefore, this species need to be initially dried below FSP before treated with liquids. But drying moisture content below 10% might not be economical for the commercial purpose comparing drying the wood between 10 and 20% moisture content. The result of this study inferred that the treatability of pine wood can be improved by reducing the moisture content up to a certain level of 10~20% for allowing better performance.