Analysis of the Effects of Drying Process of Red False Heartwood and Mature Wood on the Quality and Physical Properties of Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Abstract

Red false heartwood is a defect that largely influences the quality of beech wood and is formed by air penetration into mature wood. The air in the mature zone accelerates the process of parenchyma dying and initiates the formation of red false heartwood substances and tyloses. For this study, the selections of suitable logs were made immediately after logging the trees on the same day. The first log was chosen without any type of red false heartwood, and the second log was chosen with healthy red false heartwood. The drying schedule was divided into two phases. After these measurements it was concluded that red false heartwood had a remarkably lower initial moisture content (MC) than the mature wood. The measured difference was almost 20%. The moisture gradient before drying was higher in the red false heartwood samples than in the mature wood samples. The red false heartwood had no effect on the intensity of casehardening. For both groups of samples, the drying quality was good without damaging the dried samples.