Properties of chipped wood generated during mechanical wood processing

Research and analyses were focused on the characteristics of chipped wood generated during its mechanical processing on different machines due to the importance of these characteristics for use, transport and storage. This paper presents particle size analysis and bulk density determination of chipped wood generated on seven different wood machines: belt sander, manual belt sander, band saw, drilling machine, circular saw, multiple circular saw and four sided jointer. Microphotometry measurements of particles dimensions and bulk density determination were made on chipped wood fractions obtained by granulometric analysis of a sample taken from a circular saw during processing of beech wood. The measurement results showed the influence of machining process on particles dimensions and bulk density of generated chipped material. It was determined by microphotometry method that wood particles have a fibrous form in most fractions and that they are generated during longitudinal chopping of larger particles in the cutting process. It was also established that the particles elongation was lower in larger particle fractions and in fractions of particle size under 0.2 mm. The results of particle dimension measurement of individual fractions showed that low sieve throughput was achieved during particle size analysis.