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Title
Technological properties of Iranian cultivated paulownia wood (Paulownia fortunei)
Authors
MAJID KIAEI
Received
November 28, 2011
Published
Volume 47 Issue 9-10 October-December
Keywords
Paulownia fortunei L., physical properties, chemical properties, mechanical properties, morphology
properties
Abstract
P. fortunei was imported into Iran from China and was planted at different spacings in the forest of the north of Iran,
for wood production. In this research, physical, chemical, mechanical properties and morphological characteristics of
Iranian cultivated paulownia (Paulownia fortunei L.) wood were investigated. Paulownia has acceptable Runkel,
flexibility and slenderness coefficients, which are in the same range as those of hardwood and softwood. In general, the
results of the chemical and morphological analyses indicate that Iranian cultivated paulownia fibers are a promising
fibrous raw material for paper production. The species is not suitable for uses requiring mechanical strength. The values
obtained for physical properties were as follows: oven-dry density – 0.261 g cm-3, basic density – 0.242 g cm-3, air-dry
density – 0.291 g cm-3, volumetric shrinkage – 7.54%, percentage of cell wall – 17.41%, porosity – 82.59%, fiber
saturation point – 31.15%, and maximum moisture content – 349.72%. The means of holocellulose, cellulose, lignin
and extractives were of 80.1, 51, 23.5, and 11.8%, respectively. The average values of mechanical properties were the
following: modulus of rupture – 41.07 MPa, modulus of elasticity – 3.74 GPa, and compression strength parallel to the
grain – 14.61 MPa. The mean value of fiber length was 996 µm, fiber width – 30.55 µm, width of lumen – 25.30 µm,
and cell wall thickness – 5.25 µm.
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