Evaluation of physical properties of six forest wood species

ABSTRACT This study aims at assessing and correlating physical properties of wood, such as basic specific mass, moisture content, water absorption, loss of mass at 50 ° C and 100 ° C, maximum linear contraction (β), coefficient of contraction anisotropy (Ca β), maximum linear swelling (α) and coefficient of swelling anisotropy (Caα), being analyzed for wood of the following species: Corymbia citriodora, Corymbia maculata, Eucalyptus dunnii, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus saligna and Eucalyptus tereticornis. For that, 20 mm x 20 mm x 15 mm specimens were prepared. For the physical analyzes, the specimens were submerged in water until saturated, conditioned at a temperature of 20 ° C with relative humidity (RH) of 65% and oven dried (100 ± 3 ° C). Mass data and dimensions of these specimens were collected in each of these stages, for later calculation of the technological properties. It was observed that the wood of the seven species presented significant difference. Analyzing the mass loss properties at 100 ° C and basic specific mass, as well as anisotropy for swelling (Ca α) and contraction (Caβ), they present a significant correlation, being directly proportional. The basic specific mass and water absorption, loss of mass at 100 ° C and water absorption, Coefficient of Contraction Anisotropy (Caβ) and water absorption, showed significant correlations, being these inversely proportional properties. The wood of the genus Corymbia presented average values of technological properties superior to those of the genus Eucalyptus, highlighting the wood Corymbia citriodora.