The study of hygroscopic properties is essential for understanding the workability, dimensional stability, mechanical resistance and natural durability of wood. This work aimed to evaluate the hygroscopic balance content of several air relative humidity conditions, transverse and volumetric shrinkage and specific gravity of the Eucalyptus saligna Sm. wood. The wood used originated from Eucalyptus saligna Sm. trees, from the EMBRAPA experimental stands in Colombo, Paraná. The dimensions of the samples were 1.0x2.0x3.0 cm, with the latter in the longitudinal direction. Samples were placed in a closed chamber under ventilation near supersaturated saline solutions until they reached the equilibrium moisture under the chamber conditions. After reaching the equilibrium moisture under several conditions, the samples were oven-dried and weighed. The hygroscopic parameters, shrinkage and specific gravity were finally determined. Data on equilibrium moisture agreed very well under the relative humidity conditions to a range from 20% to 100% of air relative humidity. Shrinkage parameters were very high, compared to those of other woods of same density. Despite the high shrinkage coefficients, the anisotropic factor or relation between shrinkage in the tangential direction and that in the radial direction (T/R), were close to the values found for most Brazilian commercial woods.
Physical and hygroscopic properties; Eucalyptus saligna and wood
