Studies on Predrying and Polyethylene Glycol Treatment of Green Oak

This study sought to determine whether a more economical method of air-drying can be found. The purpose of this experiment included forced air-drying and was to determine if the air-drying step could be eliminated entirely in favor of a more economical method. Previous experiments have suggested the superficial chemical treatment with polyethylene glycol could be attempted to reduce the extreme surface checking and possibly speed up the diffusion of water to the surface of the wood. A 17-foot wide, 40-foot long, and 16-foot high pre-dryer was used in this work. It has a capacity of 20,000 board feet. Air circulation is provided by four fans. The kilns used in this experiment are of the progressive forced draft type, approximately 140 feet long. The Dip-Tank for chemical treating was a galvanized metal container of sufficient depth and width to permit complete immersion of the sample piece for a given period of time. The temperature of the chemical solution was kept at the desired level by adjusting the amount of external heat. The chemical used for the dip treatment was a formulated, low-molecular weight polyethylene glycol. It was concluded in this study that fan-drying of oak under the conditions described is uneconomical. Too much time was required for this process. Aqueous polyethylene dip treatment unquestionably reduced early surface checking and apparently minimized some of the honeycombing.

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