Drying at standard conditions is problematic due to the emergence of a strong casehardening at the end of drying, especially in species with large shrinkage. By bringing in the oscillatory drying climatic conditions, we tried to determine the effect of these on improving the quality of dried wood. Both procedures were compared by intermittent removal of samples. We measured the average moisture content, moisture gradient and casehardening; then the mechanical properties of the wood in the middle and on the surface layers were identified. The final average moisture content of wood dried in standard climatic conditions was lower than that in the oscillating process; while moisture gradient was greater. Casehardening of outer wood layers at the end of oscillated drying was lower than that at the standard air drying conditions. Mechanical properties at drying in standard climatic conditions were better than those in oscillatory conditions.
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