THE EFFECT OF DRYING TEMPERATURE ON THE MECHANO-SORPTIVE BEHAVIOR OF RED OAK LUMBER

Matched units of 3.2 cm thick red oak lumber were dried simultaneously in a steam heated and dehumidification kiln. The two pairs of runs are designated Set I and Set II. The objective was to compare the mechano-sorptive behavior and board shrinkages while using the recommended U.S. Forest Products Laboratory schedule with the steam kiln and comparatively low temperature drying in the dehumidification kiln. Drying rates in Set I and Set II were comparable for the two kilns up to approximately 450 hours, which illustrated the dependence of the drying rate on the relative humidity of the kiln air rather than its temperature. Subsequently, the stepwise increases in dry bulb temperature for the steam kiln were accompanied by accelerated drying. Less compression set developed in the interior mechano-sorptive slices for the dehumidification kiln runs. On an average, the maximum compression set for the core slices from the dehumidification kiln was about S0% of that for core slices from the steam heated kiln. Simultaneously the surface slices from the dehumidification kiln developed more tension set than those from the steam heated kiln. Board width shrinkage at the end of drying, at the same average moisture content, was greatest for the steam kiln. The greater shrinkage is attributed to greater compression set due to the higher drying temperatures. These results support McMillen)s explanation for the effect of drying temperatures upon sets and the shrinkage of red oak lumber.