Study of Dimensional Stability of Brazilian Tropical Wood Species

Wood is an organic and renewable material, with important role in carbon cycle, which contributes to sustainable development. Brazilian tropical woods are considered in building industry in structural other building components and in furniture. The better use of raw materials in different processes depends of the knowledge of their properties and, in this sense, studies of dimensional stability are scarce and mostly developed for Northern Hemisphere conifers. This book aims to extend the study of dimensional stability, now working with physical properties of Brazilian tropical woods, emphasizing densities, fiber saturation point and shrinkage/swelling values. Using wood of fifteen Brazilian tropical species, tests were carried out, according to NBR 7190:1997 to determine: density (0% and 12% moisture content); specific gravity; fiber saturation point; shrinkage; swelling; anisotropy coefficient; rate of volumetric shrinkage; and rate of volumetric swelling. A relation between specific gravity and density by shrinkage/swelling was developed (proposed), allowing the estimation of properties.