Investigation of the effect of sea water on some technological properties of domestic and foreign tree species

SUMMARY In this thesis, the sapwood of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Beech (Fagus orientalis L.) which are the two important species in the Turkey lumber industry and the sapwood of Tali (Erythrophleum suaveolens) and Mkuruti (Baphia kirkii) which are the tropical species were used.Scotch pine and Beechwood were bought from local lumber plants in Simav/Kütahya. Tropical wood species were obtained from local lumber plants in the East African country of Tanzania, Tanganyika Province.The test specimens were prepared to determine the physical (density) and mechanical (bending strength, compression strength) properties according to standard.The prepared test samples were dipped into Indian Ocean water obtained in Zanzibar Island of Tanzania for one year.After one year, samples taken from seawater and control samples were climatized for 1 month in climate cabinet with a temperature of 20 °C and the relative humidity of 65%.According to the results, it was determined that the density values of scotch pine and tropical tree species increased with seawater exposure and there was no significant change in the density values of beech samples.The bending strength properties of the local tree species which exposed to seawater were significantly reduced compared to the control samples.Slight variations were determined from bending strength of tropical tree species.A positive interaction was measured from Tali and Mkuruti samples. Compared to the control samples, the decreasing was determined on the compressive strength properties of the local tree species samples which exposed to seawater, while the increase from tropical tree species samples.In general, it was determined that seawater-exposing the sapwoods of local and tropical wood species, had a significant effect on the physical and mechanical properties of the tree species.