PROPOSAL OF DRYING SCHEDULE FOR “GUAJARÁ” WOOD (Micropholisvenulosa Mart. etEichler) Pierre, SAPOTACEAE

Abstract

Kiln drying of wood is a very important step in the production of higher value products. The aim of this work was to propose a drying schedule for conventional kiln drying of guajará wood (Micropholisvenulosa) based on the drying tax test at 100°C with small samples. The evaluation of the methodology was the secondary aim of the study. The utilized equations resulted in the following information for drying schedule development: initial dry bulb temperature of 49°C (322°F), final dry bulb temperature of 74°C (347°F) and potential of drying equal to 1.7. The drying tax test showed that guajará is a low drying species, in which should be taken proper precautions on the kiln run in order to produce higher added value products. The methodology utilized was proper for the generation of reliable parameters for the development of a drying schedule for a species of unknown behavior in drying. Although, previous knowledgment of wood properties (anatomical and physical) supplanted the value of drying potential (1.7) generated by the mathematical equation in the development of the drying schedule.