Properties of curved laminated veneer lumber made from fast-growing species with radiofrequency heating for use in furniture

Curved laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is manufactured from glue-coated piece s of rotary-cut veneers assembled and pressed between molds. In this study, curved LVLs were produced from two fast-growing wood species such as massi on pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) and poplar (Populus quramericana CV. I.) f or use in furniture. In addition to the applicability of the two wood speci es used, the optimum technological conditions of curved LVL production with radiofrequency (RF) heating and the physical and mechanical properties of curved LVL were investigated. The results are as follows: (1) Curved LVL ma de from massion pine and fast-growing poplar shows excellent mechanical pro perties. These fast-growing wood species are suitable for curved LVL being used as furniture structural members. (2) The mechanical properties of curv ed LVL are affected by frequency, voltage, RF application time, and moistur e content, with the RF application time and moisture content having more im portant effects on the mechanical properties than the frequency and the vol tage. (3) The mechanical properties of curved LVL increase with a linear in crease in the density of curved LVL.