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The collapse or flattening of wood cells is an abnormal form of shrinkage occuring above fibre saturation point. This phenomena is manifested by uneven, inhomogenous shrinkage of wood causing gross distortion and/or checking of drying timber (wash-boarding). Most timbers probably collapse to some extent during drying, particularly in the genus Eucalyptus. Hydrostatic tension is the most widely accepted explanation for this occurence, or in other words, the cohesive force of the water pulling the wet cells together, especially in completely water filled cells with no air present. A too high drying temperature before reaching fibre saturation point is also an aggravating factor. |