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Optical grading of Scots pine heartwood quality

OPTIMI

The aim of the project is to promote the use of valuable but underexploited natural resource, Scots pine heartwood and its extractives. A significant added value is available for wood raw material by grading it into uniform grades aimed to different kinds of end use. This project will test how suitable the optical measurement method, based on UV fluorescence of extractives, is for decay resistance sorting of pine heartwood.

The main result of the project is an experimental evidence of the usability of the optical measurement method, based on UV fluorescence of extractives, to carry out decay resistance grading of pine heartwood. In addition, detailed information on the results will be passed on to the users of information, i.e. manufacturers of sawn timber and sorting equipment, as well as to the scientific community. Also general information on the use and properties of pine heartwood will be provided.