Wood and Alloys: Properties, Types, and Timber Production
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or one or more metals with other elements. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Fiber optics is a transmission medium commonly used in data networks. Wood is a natural material.
Sapwood
- Younger part of the wood, representing the last cycles of tree growth, usually a lighter color.
Wood Parts
- Outer shell: The outermost layer of the tree. It consists of dead cells from the tree itself and provides protection against the weather.
- Cambium: The layer below the outer shell, giving rise to two layers: the inner layer or layer of xylem (wood), and an outer layer or layer of phloem, which is part of the outer shell.
- Sapwood: The latest wood formation, responsible for transporting most of the sap compounds. Cells carry the sap, a sugary substance that can attract insects. It is a lighter layer because sap travels through it to the rest of the wood.
- Heartwood: The hardwood and most consistent part of the tree. It consists of physiologically inactive cells in the center of the tree. It is darker than the sapwood, and sap no longer flows through it.
- Vegetable marrow: The center of the trunk, which has low resistance and is generally not used.
Main components of a tree trunk.
Process of Obtaining Timber
- Felling, cutting, or logging: This process involves loggers or a crew of workers who climb the mountain and, with axes or chainsaws, cut the tree and remove branches, roots, and begin to shake off the bark to start drying. It is generally recommended to cut trees in winter or autumn. It is required to replant more trees than are cut.
- Transportation: The second phase is where the wood is transported from the place of cutting to the mill. This stage depends on many factors, such as the terrain and the existing infrastructure. Usually, it is done by pulling with animals or machines. However, in some cases, if there is a river nearby, it is used to transport the logs. If there is a good flow of water, logs are released with care not to get caught. If there is little current, they are tied by rafts and guided to where needed.
- Sawing: At this stage, the wood is taken to a sawmill, where it is roughly processed and split into pieces of wood according to its intended use. Different types of saws are often used, such as blade saws, band saws, circular saws, or rollers. Some mills combine several of these techniques to improve production.
- Drying: This is the most important process for ensuring good quality wood in good condition. Even if earlier steps fail, this step can also fail.
- Natural drying: The logs are placed in separate piles on hollow ground to allow air to circulate between them and are protected from water and sun to dry. The disadvantage of this system is that it takes a long time and is not profitable for the mill, which wants the process to be faster.
Obtained from small chips or sawdust.