Maderas: Ciencia y Tecnología (Jan 2019)
Stability of planed and precision planed solid wood surfaces due to wetting
Abstract
The upper cell layers of machined solid wood surfaces will usually be damaged and compacted due to cutting forces. The deformation zone may be instable due to temperature and moisture variations as a consequence of artificial surface treatment or environmental interaction. Therefore, an evaluation method of surface stability in this respect would be desirable. In the frame of the new developed surface roughness evaluation method an individual wetting procedure has been developed, whilst surfaces have been characterized by 3D roughness measurement. The stability of surfaces is characterized by appropriate roughness ratios measured before and after wetting. The core depth Sk of the Abbott parameters is the most sensitive indicator to any changes in the deformation zone. Different machining processes may produce surfaces with different stability but wood species have also definite influence on the surface stability, probably due to their density and moisture conduction properties. Latter is supported by the fact that the half-time of moisture evaporation from surfaces may differ considerably. In these experiments, planed and precision-planed surfaces were compared. According to the working principle of the precision planers the planing tool is held stationary whilst the work piece does the feeding motion, thus the blade produces a very thin slice. Using this machine, the machining roughness can be reduced to minimum as it is possible to avoid formation of cycloid arcs (like in case of traditional planing) and also possible to avoid dust formation (like in case of sanding). Investigations were conducted on Norway spruce (Picea abies), larch (Larix decidua), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), aspen (Populus tremula) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). Black locust and the sessile oak have had most stable surfaces by both machining methods. The deformation zone of precision planed surfaces has been proven to be more stable than the one of planed surfaces for all wood species.
