Steaming and heating dipteryx panamensis logs from fast-grown plantations: Reduction of growth strain and effects on quality

Steaming and heating as pretreatments before log sawing reduce the negative effects of growth strain (GS). The object of this work was to study the reduction of GS in logs of Dipteryx panamensis from a fast-growth plantation using steaming and heating treatments and evaluate the effects on the lumber quality. According to the results, the maximum temperature in the center of the log was approximately 908C after 24 hours for both treatments. GS decreased after heating and steaming. The average value of GS for three treatments was 2,085.61 microdeformation units (le) before the treatment, decreasing to average value to1,692.14 le after the treatments. This reduction in turn produced a reduction of crook due to sawing measured in logs and semilogs and a decrease in the values and incidence of crook, bow, twist, and split. Similarly, color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) were statistically affected by the treatment, except for parameter L* in sapwood. In general, wood darkening was observed. Lastly, both treatments applied to D. panamensis logs showed few differences in GS, in crook due to sawing measured in logs and semilogs, and in the values and incidence of crook, bow, twist, and split. Therefore, both treatments achieved GS reduction in D. panamensis lumber.