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In India, there is a significant gap existing between supply and demand
for wood and wood products. Several factors influence wood consumption.
For example, the construction sector is witnessing a shift to eco-friendly
furnishings. Indeed, the eco-friendly amenity of wooden flooring in hotels
and houses has contributed to an upswing in commercial wood consumption.
In the current scenario, effective utilisation of existing lesser-known species
such as Cocos nucifera L. (Coconut palm tree) is gaining prominence. The
lesser known wood species will help to meet the domestic demand and may
help to bridge the gap between supply and demand of timber.
Seasoning of wood is a crucial step for producing defect-free timber for
the ease of doing timber work and potential use of available timber. The
purpose of this research is to develop experimental kiln-drying schedules for
Cocos nucifera L. (Coconut palm tree) for various flooring methods (Tongue
& Groove flooring (T&G flooring), Parquetry flooring, and Engineered
overlay flooring). The substructure, base kiln-drying schedules were
developed based on the Terazawa method (1965), and optimised using
Rasialy (1993) classification. The critical conditions of equalizing treatment
and conditioning treatment were established in relation to the product's
desirable moisture content, which is 12% for general wood flooring products
in climatic zone IV (Kerala).
High-density wood samples with thicknesses of 25 mm and 50 mm (20
cm x 10 cm in length and width) were used to investigate drying defects under
drastic conditions, and schedules for both thicknesses were developed.
Similarly, schedules were developed using medium-density wood samples of
25 mm and 50 mm. The moisture content of the experimental samples (2 cm
x 2 cm in length and width) was determined using the oven-dry method, and
the basic density was determined based on the water displacement method.
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The experimental kiln drying schedule recommended for 50 mm thick
high-density coconut palm wood Tongue and Groove flooring and Parquetry
flooring was MT4-B1 (schedule code). Initial Dry Bulb Temperature 39°C
(Relative humidity 89%), Initial Wet Bulb Depression 2°C, and Final Dry
bulb Temperature 57°C were the critical conditions for MT4-B1. The highdensity coconut palm wood (25 mm thick) is also suitable for Tongue &
Groove flooring and Parquetry flooring and the schedule was MT6-B1 with
Initial Dry Bulb Temperature 45°C (Relative humidity 90%), Initial Wet Bulb
Depression 2°C, and Final Dry Bulb Temperature 62°C. The recommended
experimental kiln drying schedule for medium-density coconut palm wood of
50 mm thickness was MT6-D2 as follows: Initial Dry bulb Temperature 42°C
(Relative humidity 87%), Initial Wet Bulb Depression 2°C, and Final Dry
bulb Temperature 57°C. The schedule for 25 mm thickness medium-density
coconut palm wood was MT6-E1, which includes an Initial Dry bulb
Temperature of 42°C (Relative humidity 87%), Initial Wet Bulb Depression
of 2°C and a Final Dry bulb Temperature of 45°C. The medium-density
coconut palm wood only can be used for overlay flooring because of its low
strength. All the schedules are made, considering the desired moisture
content (12%) for general flooring purposes under the prevailing conditions
of Kerala (Relative humidity > 67%) as prescribed by the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS).