Timber iQ August- September 2018 // Issue: 39 | Page 56

CONTRIBUTORS - WOOD WISE
Continued from page 52
HARD FACTS: MATCH POPLAR
Botanical / scientific name: Populus deltoides of the Salicaceae family.
Trade name: Match poplar (South Africa).
Other names: Canada poplar, cottonwood, eastern cottonwood, vuurhoutjiepopulier.
Origin: Europe, North and East Africa, Asia Minor, Siberia, the Himalayas, Mongolia, China, Japan,
Alaska, Canada, US and Mexico.
Conservation status: The species is not included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Red List of Threatened Species.
Bole characteristics: Match poplar is a medium- to large-sized tree, reaching an average height of 15m in
South Africa. In its natural habitat, it grows to 30m in height and boasts a stem diameter
of 0.9 to 1.2m.
Colour: The heartwood is light brownish and the sapwood is greyish-white.
Grain pattern: The wood has a fine and even texture and a straight grain.
Density: The air-dry density ranges from 370 to 530kg/m 3 with the average being about 450kg/m 3 .
Strength / bending properties: The wood is light and soft with very low to medium strength properties.
Seasoning: Air-drying – the wood has an inherent tendency to warp, twist and collapse during drying.
Stacks should be well- stickered.
Durability and preservative
treatment: The wood is non-durable and moderately resistant to preservative treatment. It can be
treated with preservatives if the intended use is poles or posts.
Working and finishing
properties: The wood cuts easily by hand or machine. Sawn boards split badly down the centre,
especially if taken from near the core of the log. The wood planes easily to a smooth
finish and it peels well. The wood has good nailing and gluing properties. It takes most
finishes well.
TIMBER DRYING SCHEDULE FOR MATCH POPLAR
Dry bulb temperatures (°C) and relative Humidity (%) at the following timber moisture contents
Drying schedule no.
3
Green
40%
30%
18% to final
DB RH% DB RH% DB RH% DB RH%
50 71 55 64 60 53 70 36
Legend: DB = Dry bulb temperature, RH = Relative Humidity
Please note: Drying schedules only serve as a guide to the kiln operator, with the response
of the timber to the drying condition being the criterion.
See more on page 56
54 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 //