Effect of moisture

Cells in the wood transport moisture in various ways to assist the growth of the tree and as a result moisture contents in trees are usually quite high. After any wood is cut from a tree, it begins to dry and interact with moisture in the environment. Variations in humidity and air temperature cause fluctuations in the moisture content of wood, which consequently affect the properties and dimensions of wood and wood products. To avoid problems and build durable timber buildings, moisture content in wood should be managed at all stages of processing and use. This is essential to minimise shrinkage, swelling, distortion or splitting of wood and for the quality of processes such as gluing, machining and surface coating. In wood, the water is either bound, i.e. combined with the wood cell walls, or it may be free within the cell cavities. When wet wood dries, the free water is lost first. This causes little change in wood properties other than reducing weight. When drying is continued, until all the free water is lost and the cell cavities are empty, further moisture loss can only come from bound water. The loss of this bound water is accompanied by shrinkage and changes to mechanical properties such as strength and modulus of elasticity. The moisture content, at which there is no more free water and only water bound on the cell walls, is called the fibre saturation point (FSP) and significant property changes occur when the moisture content drops below this point, with strength and stiffness values increasing with decreasing moisture content. Above the FSP most properties remain constant. Changes in moisture content below the FSP also result in moisture induced deformations such as swelling and shrinkage of the wood. Moisture content Moisture content is a measure of the amount of water in a piece of wood and is defined as: Moisture content (%) = (weight of water / weight of oven dry wood) x 100 This can be measured either indirectly with hand-held moisture meters or directly and most accurately by weighed samples oven dried until all water is driven off. Moisture content (%) = [(weight before drying - weight oven dry) / weight oven dry] x 100 Heartwood has lower moisture content than sapwood. Equilibrium moisture content: Timber in constant conditions of humidity and temperature will gain or lose moisture until it comes into equilibrium with the atmosphere. It is then said to have reached its equilibrium moisture content (EMC) for those conditions. To minimise the effects of moisture content on wood properties, it is essential that wood be dried to (and maintained at) a moisture content as close as possible to the EMC of the final conditions of use. Designers and producers need to assess the target environment for their product. Getting wood to the optimum moisture content is normally only possible using kiln drying. Moisture movement Water in wood normally moves from zones of higher to zones of lower moisture content. Drying starts from the exterior of the wood and moves towards the centre, and drying at the outside is also necessary to expel moisture from the inner zones of the wood. Wood subsequently attains equilibrium with the surrounding air in moisture content. Moisture in wood moves within the wood as liquid or vapour through several types of passageways, based on the nature of the driving force (e.g. pressure or moisture gradient), and variations in wood structure. These pathways consist of cavities of the vessels, fibres, ray cells, pit chambers and their pit membrane openings, intercellular spaces and transitory cell wall passageways. Movement of water takes place in these passageways in any direction, longitudinally in the cells, as well as laterally from cell to cell until it reaches the lateral drying surfaces of the wood. As wood dries, evaporation of water from the surface sets up capillary forces that exert a pull on the free water in the zones of wood beneath the surfaces. In addition, differences in moisture content between the surface and the centre (or moisture gradient, the chemical potential difference between interface and bulk) move the bound water through the small

passageways in the cell wall by diffusion. In comparison with capillary movement, diffusion is a slow process.

Shrinkage and swelling (Movement of wood) As the moisture content of wood reduces during drying, shrinkage commences at the point when the cell walls start to lose bound water (i.e., at fibre saturation point - FSP). For moisture changes below the fibre saturation point, wood will swell as it gains moisture and shrink as it loses moisture. The amount of movement is proportional to the change in moisture content and varies with species, density and the direction of the grain. Dense woods generally shrink and swell more than lighter woods. Distortion of wood and wood products occurs in many different ways, mostly due to differential shrinkage during drying. Figure below shows the most common forms of distortion occurring in sawn timber.

The difference between tangential and radial shrinkage is the cause of much distortion and degrade in drying, such as cupping of flatsawn boards as shown. Longitudinal shrinkage (along the grain) of most timbers is less than one tenth of the transverse shrinkage. Wood Drying (Wood Seasoning) Wood needs to be dried to achieve the correct moisture content for given service conditions. The primary reason for drying wood to a moisture content equivalent to its mean EMC under use conditions is to minimize the dimensional changes (or movement) in the final product. Drying, if carried out promptly after felling of trees, also protects timber against primary decay, fungal stain and attack by certain kinds of insects. Organisms, which cause decay and stain, generally cannot thrive in timber with a moisture content below 20%. Other benefits of wood drying are: Dried timber is lighter, and the transportation and handling costs are reduced. Dried timber is stronger than green timber in most strength properties. The electrical and thermal insulation properties of wood are improved by drying.

Methods include: 1. air drying

2. kiln drying

Air Drying Air drying is the drying of timber by exposing it to the air. The technique of air drying consists mainly of making a stack of sawn timber (with the layers of boards separated by stickers) on raised foundations, in a clean, cool, dry and shady place. Rate of drying largely depends on climatic conditions, and on the air movement (exposure to the wind). For successful air drying, a continuous and uniform flow of air throughout the pile of the timber needs to be arranged. The rate of loss of moisture can be controlled by coating the planks with any substance that is relatively impermeable to moisture; ordinary mineral oil is usually quite effective. Coating the ends of logs with oil or thick paint improves their quality upon drying. Wrapping planks or logs in materials which will allow some movement of moisture, generally works very well provided the wood is first treated against fungal infection by coating in petrol/gasoline or oil. Mineral oil will generally not soak in more than 12 mm below the surface and is easily removed by planing when the timber is suitably dry. Benefits- It can be less expensive to use this drying method (there are still costs associated with storing the wood, and with the slower process of getting the wood to market), and air drying often produces a higher quality, more easily workable wood than with kiln drying. Drawbacks- Depending on the climate, it takes several months to a number of years to air-dry the wood.

Kiln drying The process of kiln drying consists basically of introducing heat. In kiln drying, lumber is placed in a chamber where airflow, temperature, and humidity are controlled to provide as rapid drying as can be tolerated by the lumber without increasing defects.

In the process, deliberate control of temperature, relative humidity and air circulation is provided to give conditions at various stages (moisture contents or times) of drying the timber to achieve effective drying. For this purpose, the timber is stacked in chambers, called wood drying kilns, which are fitted with equipment for manipulation and control of the temperature and the relative humidity of the drying air and its circulation rate through the timber stack. Kiln drying provides a means of overcoming the limitations imposed by erratic weather conditions. In kiln drying as in air drying, unsaturated air is used as the drying medium. Reducing degrade and distortion a) Drying defects Defects that arise during the drying of timber have a direct impact on the cost of air drying because they reduce the value and the yield of useable dry timber. The different types of defects are given alongside possible remedies.

b) Sawing tips to help drying If the speed of drying is important, do not saw timber any thicker than is necessary for the intended use. Sawdust on board surfaces can be minimised by correct sawing procedures and blade maintenance. Distortion such as cup and diamonding can be reduced by quarter sawing timber. Unless special sawing techniques are used, a majority of boards sawn from a log will be flat sawn. This should be taken into account, as shrinkage is greatest in the tangential direction. Shrinkage tables are available (see section 10) to calculate the amount of shrinkage that is likely to occur during drying. Quarter sawing tends to give lower volume recovery than flat sawing (through and through) but may yield higher seasoned recovery. Trimming the edges of through and through planks can reduce the time required for a plank to dry. There is no point drying material that will ultimately be discarded.