TIMBER RESEARCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26544, 20 August 1947, Page 5

TIMBER RESEARCH

SPECIAL LABORATORY VALUABLE DEVELOPMENTS CLEARING HOUSE FOR INFORMATION From E. G. Webber, N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent LONDON, Aug. 19. Among a number of important timber research projects at present under investigation at the Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, is a process for seasoning timber by the use of high frequency electric waves. The process was first developed by the laboratory during the latter stages of the war, when it proved of great value in expediting the preparation of timber for the manufacture of aircraft components. It has also been successfully applied to the rapid drying of glues used in the manufacture of aeroplane propellers and other composite timber preparations. At present the process is considered too expensive for ordinary commercial use, but efforts are now being made to adapt it for furniture and other commercial timber manufacturing The use of electric waves makes it possible to season timber in a fraction of the time required for kiln drying or air seasoning. Utilisation of Waste Another important process under investigation at Princes Risborough is in the utilisation of lignins—the portion of the timber left as waste after the extraction of cellulose—for the manufacture of a special type of hard board and possibly for the incorporation in the manufacture of plastics. As approximately 50 per cent, of the timber used for cellulose extraction is at present wasted, this process, if it can be successfully developed, will have very important commercial possibilities. The Princes Risborough laboratory 'is for forestry the counterpart of Cambridge in animal nutrition and Rothamstead in general agricultural research. Established in 1925 on the recommendation of the 1920 Empire forestry conference, it serves the forestry services of all Commonwealth countries as a ' clearing house for forestry and timber research infor-r mation and a general research station on all questions of timber technology. It has one of the largest " timber libraries ” in the world, with over 5000 different species catalogued and fully indexed under a system which enables the librarians to supply full botanical and other details in a minimum of time. New Zealand timbers occupy special sections of the library, and a magnificent panel of kauri is one of the chief decorations of the entrance hall of the administration building. Pinus Radiata Tested Problems of timber research are sent to Princes Risborough from all over the world. The laboratory was called upon to test the suitability of pinus radiata for manufacture and for New Zealand butter boxes and later to test the fibre board which is now generally and succesfully used for this purpose. Considerable work is, also done at the laboratory in testing the various forms of package and box construction. In one section of the plant, crates and boxes are tumbled about in a giant drum in order to test their resistance to rough handling, while in another a specially-built “ tropical house ” makes it possible to investigate the use of various types of timber under tropical conditions. Among the many important inventions produced from the laboratory is a specially designed furnace which makes it possible for timber factories to generate steam by burning their green sawdust and waste instead of coal. This furnace has already been successfully employed in New Zealand. One of the largest sections of the laboratory plant is employed in testing various types of plywood and the glues used in its construction. Another section tests and records the breaking strains of different types of timber under varying conditions of friction and pressure. Checking of Timber Pests The laboratory also includes the latest equipment for kiln drying timber and creosote treatment and special laboratory sections dealing with the prevention and checking of fungoid and insect timber pests. Two of its staff, Mr K. St. George Cartwright and Dr Finlay, both acknowledged authorities in this field of research, will shortly publish an important new book on decay in wood and its control.