HEATING CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFTWOODS IN A HIGH FREQUENCY FIELD

The research aimed to establish whetherdielectric heating at radio frequencies might be afeasible option for phytosanitation of green softwoodboards. Results are presented for two softwoodspecies, namely, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) andwestern red cedar (Thujaplicata Donn.), and forsingle-specimen testing configurations with a crosssection of 40x90mm surrounded on three sides bysimilar cross-section kiln dried boards. In terms ofdielectric properties, red cedar is nature "designed" toabsorb more easily the dielectric fields. Heating rateswere not correlated with moisture content for neitherspecies investigated thus underlining the versatility ofRF-heating that allows simultaneous rise oftemperature within dry and wet areas. Convectionlosses through air contact may reduce the averageheating rate of the shell by about 40%.