4.2b Timber Flashcards
What are the types of natural timber?
Softwood + Hardwood
What is softwood and its properties?
Wood from coniferous trees with cones and needle-like leaves (eg. pine, cedar, fir)
Fast growing, renewable resource
Less dense, more prone to water damage
Lighter colored, strong aroma
Low quality furniture
What is hardwood and its properties?
Wood from deciduous trees with broad leaves (eg. maple, beech, birch, oak)
Longer growth periods, non-renewable resource
Higher density and hardness
High quality furniture (expensive)
What is man made/ engineered timber?
Composite products that use wood scraps with glue to produce a new material
What is MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and its properties?
Small fibers are pressed into a form using binders
Smooth surface (easily machined + painted)
Very low tensile strength
Very low resistance to damp environments
Requires finishing
What is Plywood and its properties?
Layers of veneer laid down and glued at 90 degrees to each other
High tensile strength
Does not warp
What is Particle Board and its properties
Chips of wood are glued together to make panels
Cheap to manufacture
Very low tensile strength
What is seasoning?
When timber is harvested it has a lot of moisture which needs to be dried out to have the useful mechanical/ physical properties
What is the treatment of timber?
Additive preservative to improve the timber’s protection from insects, fungus and weather, and improve its chemical resistance
What are timber finishes?
Stains, oil, or waxes applied to the surface of the timber to improve its aesthetics and/or functionality to protect it from environmental factors
What is the recovery and disposal of timber?
Wood recycling turns waste timber into usable products
Reforestation is the process of restoring areas where forests once existed
However, engineered timber is challenging to recycle due to the binder’s toxicity
