Density (ru = 12%), equilibrium moisture content (ur), drying and total shrinkage (ß), transversal shrinkage anisotropy (An), ratio of swelling (q), coefficient of swelling (h), ratio of sorption (s), compressive (parallel to grain) and bending strength, and the modulus of elasticity (Emodul) of juvenile, adult and wound of black pine wood (Pinus nigra Arn.) were compared. The density of juvenile wood (at MC = 12%), as well as of wound wood, was higher than the density of adult wood due to high resin content. This was also the reason that the equilibrium moisture content of juvenile wood was higher than those of adult wood and wound wood; the differences between the latter being negligible. There were no typical characteristics in shrinkage (the same pattern was observed also in dimensional stability) in the radial and longitudinal directions between the normal and juvenile wood, which could not be said for the shrinkage in tangential direction - it was more intensive in normal wood. Juvenile wood had lower shrinkage compared to normal and wound wood in all 3 directions. The transversal shrinkage anisotropy was the highest in juvenile wood, while the differences between the other 2 categories were not characteristic. The compressive strength parallel to grain and the modulus of elasticity of adult wood were higher than those of wound wood, while the bending strength between the 2 categories was comparable. Juvenile wood had the lowest mechanical properties (compressive and bending strength, and the modulus of elasticity).
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