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›› 1983, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (3): 284-291.

• 论文及研究报告 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

STUDIES ON THE WOOD PROPERTIES AND USES OF THE GENUS PAULOWNIA

Cheng Jun-qing   

  1. Institute of Wood Industry,Chinese Academy of Forestry
  • Online:1983-08-25 Published:1983-08-25

Abstract: Paulownia Sieb.et Zucc.is a native genus of Eastern Asia.It has been introduced into Europe,America and Australia.This genus consists of about 9 species and 2 varieties which all of them grow in China.In order that the trees grow very fast,and the timbers provide with excellent physical properties (e.g.,stable in dimension,poor in thermal and electrical conductivity,good in resonance,etc.) and have been utilized universally,we are now making great efforts to plant them in large proper areas as one of the most important commercial timbers. Paulownia timbers have been used extensively through experience to make Chinese string instruments (sounding boards),chests,insulators,carvings and so forth.In ancient times,owing to the scientific research conditions were confined timbers for making wood products were selected only depending on wood craftmen's experience.So that a systematical and comprehensive study on anatomical characters and chemical,physical and mechanical properties of paulownia wood is needed and has been done in this paper.The purposes are: 1. To obtain the scientific experimental data of wood properties; 2. To make verification or clarification of some doubtful or mistaken popular traditions and plagiarized records of wood properties or uses (It is said that paulownia wood possesses the high-classed qualities of resistance of decay and abration,non-permeable to fluid,etc.),but the opposite experimental evidences have been shown from our tests. 3. To propose some desirable timber uses according to the appropriate wood properties.