Abstract The use of tropical species in forest plantations is an alternative to supply the demand of good quality wood. However, information regarding the performance of planted tropical species is scarce. The aim of this study was to provide an assessment of the lumber potential of Cariniana legalis (“jequitibá-rosa”), Zeyheria tuberculosa (“ipê-felpudo”) and Cordia trichotoma (“louro-pardo”) in a forest plantation. Three trees per species were sampled at age of 50 months, planted in a mixed stand with 2 x 4 m spacing in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. We assessed characteristics of the trees, the logs, lumber yield, and partial volumetric shrinkage of wood. Total volumetric shrinkage of ipê-felpudo, jequitibá-rosa and louro-pardo would be around 12.80%, 13.40% and 11.58%, respectively. Among the three species analyzed, louro-pardo had the best performance, followed by ipê-felpudo, while jequitibá-rosa had the worst performance. All species had good performance regarding log quality and dimensional stability of wood.

Resumo As pesquisas brasileiras sobre o processo que tem sido denominado de retificação térmica, termorretificação, tratamento térmico, tratamento com calor e modificação térmica vêm crescendo desde o ano 2000. Como a padronização de conceitos é algo importante para o desenvolvimento científico de uma determinada área, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre esse processo com a finalidade de se propor a nomenclatura técnica mais adequada para o mesmo em Língua Portuguesa, com fins de padronização. Foram revisados os artigos publicados no tema em 2015, em dez revistas científicas internacionais e em sete brasileiras. Também foi verificado um livro didático estrangeiro, o maior evento científico do tema e informações de empresas europeias detentoras de patentes de processo e que comercializam produtos. Com base análise de todas as fontes, para a padronização do processo e da madeira processada/produto originado, recomenda-se o uso das nomenclaturas técnicas modificação térmica e modificada termicamente, respectivamente. Tecnicamente, não está errado o uso dos termos tratamento térmico e tratada termicamente e seus equivalentes tratamento com calor e tratada com calor (apesar destas serem formas mais raras). Contudo, para não incorrer em erros de interpretação, essas nomenclaturas devem ser evitadas porque são genéricas e tradicionalmente empregadas para o consagrado processo de secagem artificial da madeira. Não se estimula o uso das nomenclaturas retificação térmica e termorretificação, bem como seus derivados retificada termicamente e termorretificada.

Abstract Brazilian studies of a process that has been variously called in Portuguese retificação térmica, termorretificação (both with no English correspondent), tratamento térmico (thermal treatment), tratamento com calor (heat treatment) or modificação térmica (thermal modification) have been increasing since 2000. Because the standardization of concepts is important for the scientific development of any subject, the aim of this article was to provide a literature review about this process, to propose the most appropriate technical nomenclature for it in Portuguese, aiming at standardization. We reviewed articles about this process, published in 2015, in ten international scientific journals and seven Brazilian journals. We also verified a foreign textbook, the largest scientific event on the subject and information on European companies that have process patents and products on the market were also verified. Based on all the verified sources, it is recommended the technical nomenclature ‘modificação térmica’ (thermal modification) for the process and ‘modificada termicamente’ (thermally modified) for the wood/products. Technically, it is not wrong to use the terms ‘tratamento térmico’ (thermal treatment) and ‘tratada termicamente” (thermally treated) and their equivalents ‘tratamento com calor (heat treatment) and ‘tratada com calor’ (heat treated). However, in order to avoid errors of interpretation, these nomenclatures should be avoided because they are generic and traditionally used for the well-established process of artificial drying of wood. It is also strongly discouraged the use of ‘retificação térmica’ and ‘termorretificação’ as well as their derivatives ‘retificada termicamente’ and ‘termorretificada’.

Abstract This study intended to assess the effect of weather on the air-drying process of messassa wood (Brachystegia spiciformis Benth) in two areas of Mozambique (Machipanda and Beira city). First, the logs were sawn into 27 mm thick boards. Every five days the moisture content of the wood was determined by the control samples. For each region, the drying rate and wood quality post sawing and drying were estimated. The drying time differed between the regions under investigation, with Machipanda revealing the higher value. Messassa wood, which revealed a low drying rate (0.33% U/day), was categorized as slow drying wood. Both regions showed average final moisture content of 15.3% in the boards, with only slight variations in moisture inside the stacks. After outdoor drying, only a few defects were noted and as it was free from tensions, hence it was classified as good quality wood.

Abstract: This study is a continuation of a previous study published in this journal, with the aim of evaluating the effect of the Brazilian industrial thermal modification process on some physical properties of Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood. Flatsawn boards of juvenile wood were tested for four treatment levels: untreated and thermally modified wood at final cycle temperatures of 140 °C, 160 °C and 180 °C. Physical properties were assessed according to a standard of the Comisión Panamericana de Normas Técnicas and a method proposed by the specialized literature encompassing equilibrium moisture content (a measure of wood’s hygroscopicity), density (oven-dried and air-dried) and radial, tangential and volumetric swelling (from oven-dried to green moisture content). Thermally modified Eucalyptus grandis wood became less hygroscopic, more dimensionally stable (tangential and volumetric swelling) and less dense, even at the lowest temperature tested (140 °C), except for radial swelling, which did not differ from untreated wood.

Abstract: A study of colour assessment, using the CIEL*a*b* system, was conducted with samples of Eucalyptus grandis wood thermally treated by the Brazilian industrial process of thermal modification, VAP HolzSysteme®, at three different temperatures, i.e. 140, 160 and 180 °C. Previous to the treatment, the samples were classified into three groups according to their distance to the wood pith, on the radial direction. All thermally modified samples presented a noticeable colour change, confirmed by high values of ΔE*. As the intensity of the treatment increased, the eucalypt samples presented an increase of red colour tone (a*) (up to 160 ºC) and a decrease of colour lightness (L*). Significant colour differences were found among the classified groups, for both untreated and thermally modified samples. The eucalypt samples groups showed different colour responses when thermally treated at 140 and 160 ºC. At 180 ºC the groups didn’t show a significant colour response variation.

RESUMO A determinação dos gradientes de umidade é uma das etapas mais importantes na avaliação da qualidade da secagem da madeira. O objetivo geral do trabalho foi estudar a qualidade da secagem natural de tábuas de teca utilizando os gradientes de umidade na espessura e no comprimento. Seis tábuas representativas (40 × 180 × 2.300 mm) foram amostradas de uma pilha de secagem natural sob cobertura, divididas em 30 partes iguais no comprimento e medidas com um medidor elétrico de umidade resistivo, resultando em quatro tratamentos: duas profundidades (1/4 e 1/2 da espessura) e duas superfícies (interna e externa) de medição. Dentre as principais conclusões, a qualidade da secagem natural pôde ser considerada boa, principalmente por dois motivos: i) os gradientes de umidade médios na espessura foram comparáveis àqueles reportados na literatura para secagem artificial de tábuas menos espessas; ii) a amplitude da umidade média entre tábuas (2,5 p.p.) foi satisfatória para um processo de secagem conduzido sem controle das variáveis ambientais. O gradiente de umidade no comprimento foi completamente diferente daqueles reportados na literatura, nos quais o topo de nenhuma tábua apresentou menor umidade do que as porções compreendidas entre os topos.

ABSTRACT The determination of moisture content gradients is one of the most important steps for assessing the quality of wood drying. The general aim of this work was to study the quality of air-dried teakwood boards according to the gradients of moisture content in thickness and length. Six representative boards (40 × 180 × 2,300 mm) were sampled from a stack air-dried under shelter, divided into 30 equal parts in length and measured with a resistance moisture meter, resulting in four treatments: two depths (1/4 and 1/2 thickness) and two surfaces (inner and outer) of measurement. As main results, we can conclude that the air-drying quality can be considered good, mainly for two reasons: i) the average moisture content gradients in thickness were comparable to those reported in literature for kiln-drying of less thick boards; ii) the range of average moisture content among boards (2.5 p.p.) was satisfactory for a drying process carried out without environment control. Length moisture content gradient was completely different from that reported in literature, in which no board tops had smaller moisture content than the parts comprehended in between the tops.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to identify eucalyptus clones for the production of sawed timber based on dendrometric variables and longitudinal residual deformation (LRD), analyzing the correlation between these characteristics. 20 Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla clones with 13 years of age were analyzed. The crown size, diameter at breast height (DBH) and bark thickness were measured. There was a significant difference between the clones for DBH, LRD and bark thickness. There was no significant correlation between DBH and DRL. The correlation was significant between DBH and crown size, its being possible to affirm that crown size affects the diametrical growth of trees. DBH and bark thickness were also significantly correlated, in so far as trees with a wider diameter possess thicker bark. It was possible to select clones with better potential for sawed timber production, that is to say, elevated DBH with a reduced LRD.

RESUMO Existem atualmente cinco principais processos de modificação térmica em operação na Europa, que aumentam a estabilidade dimensional e a resistência da madeira à biodeterioração, porém, não são eficientes contra o ataque de térmitas. Na verdade, existe pouca pesquisa a respeito do efeito da modificação térmica da madeira na resistência à biodeterioração por térmitas, sejam subterrâneas ou de madeira seca. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito do processo brasileiro de modificação térmica VAP HolzSysteme(r) na resistência da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis ao ataque de térmitas de madeira seca Cryptotermes sp. Para tanto, foram testados cinco tratamentos: madeira não tratada de eucalipto, madeira de eucalipto modificada termicamente a três temperaturas finais (140, 160 e 180°C) e madeira de pinus (controle). O ataque foi avaliado em termos de perda de massa, escore médio das notas do desgaste, número de orifícios e mortalidade das térmitas, de acordo com o método proposto pelo Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas de São Paulo. Semelhante aos processos europeus de modificação térmica, o processo brasileiro VAP HolzSysteme(r) também não foi eficaz para melhorar a resistência da madeira de eucalipto ao ataque das térmitas de madeira seca, pelo menos nas condições avaliadas.

ABSTRACT There are currently in operation five major European industrial processes for wood thermal modification. They improve wood's dimensional stability and decay resistance, but are not efficient against termites attack. In fact, there is little research about the effect of thermal modification on wood resistance to termites, whether subterranean or dry-wood termites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Brazilian process of thermal modification (VAP HolzSysteme(r)) on the resistance of Eucalyptus grandis wood to attack by Cryptotermes sp. dry-wood termites. Five treatments were tested: untreated eucalypt wood, thermally modified eucalypt wood at three final temperatures (140, 160 and 180 °C) and pine wood (control). The attack was evaluated in terms of mass loss, mean score of wear grades, number of holes and termites mortality, according to a Brazilian method proposed by the Technological Research Institute of São Paulo. Similarly to the European processes of thermal modification, the Brazilian VAP HolzSysteme(r) was not effective to improve wood resistance to dry-wood termites attack, at least in the evaluated conditions.

This article reports the first study of the influence of the Brazilian process of thermal modification called VAP HolzSysteme® on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus wood. Flatsawn boards of Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood were tested for four treatment levels: untreated and thermally modified at final cycle temperatures of 140, 160 and 180 °C. Chemical analyses were carried out according to the standards of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and encompassed total extractives, insoluble lignin, holocellulose (cellulose + hemicelluloses) and solvent soluble extractives in water (cold and hot) and ethanol:toluene (1:2 v.v.) mixture. The chemical composition of thermally modified Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood was significantly changed by the VAP HolzSysteme® process compared to untreated wood. Only the wood thermally modified at final cycle temperature of 180 °C was significantly different for all the chemical analyses performed compared to untreated wood.

This article reports continuation of a study of the influence of the Brazilian process of thermal modification called VAP HolzSysteme® on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus wood. Flatsawn boards of Eucalyptus grandis juvenile wood were tested for four treatment levels: untreated, and thermally modified at final cycle temperatures of 140 °C, 160 °C or 180 °C. Chemical analyses were carried out according to the standards of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and encompassed 1% NaOH solubility and ash content. The 1% NaOH solubility increased in the wood thermally modified at 140 °C and 160 °C in relation to the untreated wood, but did not increase further 180 °C, indicating that the treatment at 180 °C was not enough to cause more degradation of hemicelluloses. In practice, the thermal modification process had no effect on the ash content of wood. The statistical difference observed between the treatment levels untreated and 160 °C (0,04 percentage points) can be attributed to the heterogeneity of wood as a material.

RESUMO Este trabalho é a continuação da pesquisa de Klitzke & Batista (2010), e teve como objetivo principal avaliar se a qualidade da madeira na metodologia da secagem drástica a 100 °C corresponde àquela da secagem convencional. Utilizou-se madeira de 11 anos de Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus grandis e Eucalyptus dunnii, que foram secas conjuntamente em uma câmara-piloto convencional, realizando-se três repetições. Os defeitos de secagem avaliados foram rachaduras de superfície e de topo, encanoamento e colapso, dos quais foi produzido um escore médio por espécie, que foi comparado com o escore de defeitos do ensaio de secagem drástica, e também com a densidade básica e a contração volumétrica total da madeira. Eucalyptus grandis e Eucalyptus saligna tiveram a melhor qualidade de secagem. Foi rejeitada a hipótese de se poder utilizar o escore de defeitos do ensaio de secagem drástica como forma de prever a qualidade da secagem convencional das espécies estudadas.

ABSTRACT This research is a continuation of Klitzke & Batista (2010) work. The main objective was to assess whether the wood quality in the methodology of drastic drying test at 100 °C corresponds to that of conventional kiln drying. It was used 11 years old Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus dunnii woods, which were kiln dried together in the same batch in a pilot scale kiln, doing three repetitions. Drying defects evaluated were end and surface cracks, cupping and collapse, which generated a mean score by species, which was compared to the score of defects of the drastic drying test, as well as to the basic density and the total volumetric shrinkage. Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus saligna had higher wood quality in conventional drying than Eucalyptus dunnii. It was rejected the hypothesis of using the score of defects in drastic drying test as a way of predicting the quality of conventional kiln drying.

RESUMO A indústria brasileira comumente seca diferentes espécies de eucalipto em uma mesma carga de secagem convencional, seja pela dificuldade de identificação das espécies, híbridos e clones, seja para melhor utilizar o equipamento. No entanto, essa prática não é recomendada na literatura específica. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a qualidade da secagem convencional conjunta da madeira de Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus grandis eEucalyptus dunnii oriundas de plantios clonais. Para tal, foi realizada a secagem de três cargas com as três espécies conjuntamente em uma câmara-piloto de secagem convencional. Os critérios utilizados para analisar-se a qualidade da secagem foram: umidade final, rachaduras de topo, rachaduras de superfície, encanoamento, colapso, gradiente de umidade e tensões de secagem.Eucalyptus grandis apresentou a melhor qualidade de secagem, seguido pelo Eucalyptus saligna, e ambas as espécies possuem potencial para serem secas conjuntamente. Eucalyptus dunnii apresentou baixa qualidade de secagem, esta espécie não deve ser seca conjuntamente com Eucalyptus grandis eEucalyptus saligna. A densidade básica e a retratibilidade foram bons critérios para a expectativa de qualidade da secagem de Eucalyptus spp., em que espécies menos densas e mais estáveis dimensionalmente apresentaram melhor qualidade de secagem. O programa de secagem utilizado deve ser modificado para a secagem futura dessas espécies, notadamente no tocante aos períodos de uniformização e condicionamento, que foram considerados insuficientes.

ABSTRACT The Brazilian industry commonly dries different species of eucalypt in a same load because of the difficulty of identifying the species, hybrids and clones, and also by optimizing the use of the kiln. However, this practice is not recommended in the literature. The aim of this work was to verify the quality of grouped conventional drying of Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus grandisand Eucalyptus dunnii from clonal plantations. To this end, three loads were dried with the three species together in a pilot conventional dry kiln. The criteria used to analyze the quality of dried wood were final moisture content, end checks, cupping, collapse, moisture gradient and drying stresses. Eucalyptus grandis showed the best quality of drying, followed by Eucalyptus saligna, and both species have potential to be kiln dried together. Eucalyptus dunnii had the worst quality of drying, and should not be kiln dried together withEucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus saligna.The basic density and shrinkage were good parameters for the expected quality of the drying of eucalyptus species, in which less dense and more dimensionally stable species had better quality of drying. The drying schedule used must be modified to further drying of these species, especially regarding to uniformity and conditioning periods, which were considered insufficient.

Thermal modification of wood is a process that has drawn considerable attention of Brazilian researchers, but studies about the effect of this process on wood anatomy are scarce, even in the worldwide literature. The aim of this work was to perform a preliminary analysis of the effect of the Brazilian thermal modification process called VAP HolzSysteme® on the cell dimensions of Eucalyptus grandis wood. The investigated treatments corresponded to three final cycle temperatures (140, 160 and 180 °C), which were compared to untreated wood. Wood anatomy was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy, in the latter case to measure the dimensions of fibers, vessel elements and ray parenchyma. The qualitative analysis using SEM indicated that no significant changes occurred on the structure of ray parenchyma, vessels and fibers tissues. Even tyloses was preserved in the vessel elements of thermally modified wood at the highest temperature (180 °C). Likewise, no quantitative changes were observed in the dimensions of fibers, vessels diameter and ray parenchyma height.

É importante desenvolver tecnologias de secagem para a madeira de Eucalyptus grandis, que é uma das espécies mais plantadas do gênero no Brasil e desempenha papel significativo no abastecimento da indústria madeireira nacional. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar a secagem convencional da madeira de três clones de Eucalyptus grandis. Os objetivos específicos foram comparar os comportamentos entre: i) os defeitos do ensaio de secagem de amostras de pequenas dimensões com os defeitos da secagem convencional de tábuas em câmara; e ii) as propriedades físicas e a qualidade da secagem. Foram coletadas cinco árvores de 11 anos de cada um dos clones de Eucalyptus grandis, utilizando-se apenas tábuas tangenciais da primeira tora. Foram determinadas a densidade básica e a contração total da madeira, bem como foi realizado o ensaio de secagem de amostras de pequenas dimensões a 100 °C. Procedeu-se à secagem convencional em câmarapiloto, em que foram avaliados as umidades inicial e final, o gradiente de umidade na espessura, as tensões residuais e os defeitos de secagem. Utilizou-se a metodologia de escore de defeitos para comparar o comportamento entre os defeitos do ensaio de amostras de pequenas dimensões e aqueles da secagem convencional. Destaca-se que o programa de secagem utilizado foi muito severo para a madeira analisada, resultando em grande quantidade de tábuas com defeitos. O comportamento entre os defeitos do ensaio de amostras de pequenas dimensões e os defeitos de tábuas na secagem convencional foi diferente, não havendo correspondência.

It is important to develop drying technologies for Eucalyptus grandis lumber, which is one of the most planted species of this genus in Brazil and plays an important role as raw material for the wood industry. The general aim of this work was to assess the conventional kiln drying of juvenile wood of three clones of Eucalyptus grandis. The specific aims were to compare the behavior between: i) drying defects indicated by tests with wood specimens and conventional kiln-dried boards; and ii) physical properties and the drying quality. Five 11-year-old trees of each clone were felled, and only flatsawn boards of the first log were used. Basic density and total shrinkage were determined, and the drying test with wood specimens at 100 °C was carried out. Kiln drying of boards was performed, and initial and final moisture content, moisture gradient in thickness, drying stresses and drying defects were assessed. The defect scoring method was used to verify the behavior between the defects detected by specimen testing and the defects detected in kiln-dried boards. As main results, the drying schedule was too severe for the wood, resulting in a high level of boards with defects. The behavior between the defects in the drying test with specimens and the defects of kiln-dried boards was different, there was no correspondence, according to the defect scoring method.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o desempenho operacional do desdobro de Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill ex Maiden com motosserra, no contexto da utilização em pequena escala, utilizando-se como ferramentas de avaliação operacional do desdobro com motosserra foi satisfatório, com rendimento e eficiência operacional médios de 58,5% e diamétricas: 20,0-25,9 cm, 26,0-28,9 cm, 29,0-31,9 cm, 32,0-34,9 cm e 35,0-41,0 cm. O desempenho operacional do desdobro com motosserra foi satisfatório, com rendimento e eficiência médios de 58,5% e 0,55 m³/operário/h, respectivamente. No entanto, a viabilidade dessa técnica está restrita a sua utilização em pequena escala e ao padrão de qualidade exigido, da maneira como tem sido utilizada atualmente por pequenos produtores rurais. A classe diamétrica 3 (29,0-31,9 cm) apresentou o melhor rendimento, de 66,6%, pois foi aquela em que houve a melhor adequação do modelo de corte, ou seja, melhor relação entre diâmetro das toras e produtos gerados. Sugere-se para pesquisas futuras o desenvolvimento de modelos de corte específicos para cada classe diamétrica, além da redução da amplitude das classes, visando-se aumentar o rendimento em madeira serrada. De modo geral, o aumento do diâmetro das toras resulta em aumento da eficiência operacional. O tempo médio gasto por operação foi o mesmo para as classes 3, 4 e 5, demonstrando que a última apresentou a melhor eficiência operacional (0,82 m³/operador/h.).

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to analyze the operational performance of Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill ex Maiden logs breakdown with chainsaw, taking into account small scale use, e.g., in small farms, using yield and operational efficiency as evaluation tools. The specific aim was to analyze the behavior of yield and operational efficiency in five diametric classes: 20.0-25.9cm, 26.0-28.9 cm, 29.0-31.9 cm, 32.0-34.9 cm and 35.0-41.0 cm. According to the results obtained, the chainsaw log breakdown had a satisfactory operational behavior, with average yield and operational efficiency of 58,5% and 0.55 m³/operator/h, respectively. However, the feasibility of such technique is restricted to small scale use. Diametric class 3 (29.0-31.9 cm) presented the best yield (66.6%) because it was the one that presented the best adequacy between log diameter and products. It is suggested for further researches the development of specific sawing patterns by diametric class, in addition to the reduction of class ranges, aiming the yield increase. The average breakdown time spent by log was the same for classes 3, 4 and 5, resulting that the latter presented the best operational efficiency (0.82 m³/operator/h).