| Within the wood products industry, and the consumer market for finished wood products, the desired color for maple lumber is "white." Past research has proven that log age and harvest season do not have adverse effects on maple color. It is found that initial dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, and initial moisture content are variables that have the greatest affect on surface and interior color change in maple lumber.; In this research study, hard maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and red maple (Acer rubrum Marsh.) lumber specimens were dried under various controlled laboratory conditions to replicate an industrial kiln drying process. The comparison of the occurrence within interior color of the specimens was determined at specific initial dry bulb temperatures and initial target moisture content conditions, by mechanical analysis with a spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis of the color data indicates that high initial dry bulb temperatures have more adverse effects on interior color than do lower temperatures along with moisture contents above the fiber saturation point (FSP), which affect oxidative reactions within ray parenchyma cells.; Keywords. Air-dried, core temperature, initial dry bulb temperature, initial target moisture content, interior color, L*a*b* color values, oxidative reaction. |
