EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON SOME SELECTED WOODS IN UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE

Abstract

Wood has many helpful benefits, with high ratio of strength to weight and a remarkable record for durability and performance as a structural material, but the properties can be manipulated by the impact of environmental factors. Therefore, wood should be processed and stored adequately to uphold the value of the biomaterial. This work exposes the effects of temperature and relative humidity in the tropical environment of Umuahia on the storability of commonly available wood. Four of the most available wood samples, namely, Iroko, White Afara, Black Afara and Nauclea Diderrichi, were collected, fresh from the mill, and used for laboratory and field experiments to determine the moisture content and storage effects of wood as seen in conventional storage patterns adopted by regional timber dealers. The results showed that Nauclea Diderrichi wood has highest percentage of water absorption in the field by 7.94%, followed by Iroko with 5.93%, and Black Afara with 5.36%, while the lowest was White Afara with 4.63%. The level 
of absorption or percentage moisture contents in ascending order resulted to Iroko, White Afara, Black Afara and Nauclea Diderrichi was 2.81, 2.82. 2.88 and 3.5% respectively. The environmental factors, mainly, variation in temperature and relative humidity at different season, has effect on the length, width, thickness, volumes and moisture content of the wood samples as seen from the outcomes of the research.