EFFECT OF NATURAL WEATHERING ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF Nauclea diderrichii WOOD.................

This study looked into the effects of natural weathering on the physical qualities of Nauclea diderrichii wood. Four mature trees of Nauclea diderrichii yielded twenty-four wood samples. Specific density, texture, and weight are among the physical attributes explored. Discoloration, surface checking, elevated grain, and eventual fibre loss are the main changes in N. diderrichii wood samples following six months of exposure to weathering conditions. After exposure, 4.89 percent and 3.86 percent of sapwood and heartwood wood materials were lost, respectively, as certain wood products were worn away during exposure. The average moisture content value was reduced from 16.81 percent before exposure to 12.40 percent after six months of exposure, according to the study. Prolonged exposure to weathering variables such as rainfall, humidity, temperature, wind, and sunshine was blamed for wood degradation and loss of aesthetic value as a result of discolouration and fibre loss in wood samples. The negative effects of weathering on wood imply that wood materials should not be left out in the open for too long before use, and that wood exposed to rain, humidity, and other factors prior to application of preservatives or coatings is at danger of destruction. As a result, the study recommended that wood treatment against natural weathering begin as soon as the lumber is delivered to the log yard, as this step could reduce waste in wood-degraded areas.

Please see the link :- https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOGEE/article/view/4393