Vol. 10, Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
K Karimanisha, MP Divya, R Ravi and I Sekar

Abstract:
Melia Dubia is the most important secondary timber and the most preferred species for the plywood industries. Using the species of Melia Dubia with the primary objective of standardizing the seasoning schedule will help to decide the utilization of wood. Planks thicknesses of 1.5 cm, 2 cm, and 2.5 cm, seasoned in an electrically heated seasoning kiln. The initial moisture content before stacking in the kiln was 65% in Melia Dubia. The final moisture content to reach about 12% in kiln seasoning took six days. The density of Melia Dubia at green conditions was ranged from 490 kg/m3, and oven-dried at 12% MC was 360 kg/m3. This species is characterized by lower radial (1.37%) and tangential (2.02%) shrinkage. MOE and MOR were higher when compared to greenwood 5961.60 (N/mm2) to seasoned woods 6198.70 (N/mm2). The major seasoning defect observed in the planks of Melia Dubia was end splitting, surface cracking, and bowing.