Some physical, mechanical and chemical properties of crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) wood

The purpose of this study was to focus on some physical, mechanical, chemical and anatomical properties of Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) along with its varnish adhesion strength, varnish layer hardness and wood color. The samples of Crimean juniper wood used in the experiments was provided with Kastamonu Taşköprü Forest Sub-District Directorate from Düzdağ areas. For the anatomical investigations of Crimean juniper wood, the transverse, radial and tangential sections, tracheid length and tracheid width of a test specimen were investigated under a light microscope. For chemical experiments, hydrodistillation method for obtaining volatile oil and alcohol-benzene solubility test for determining of extractive contents of branches, cones and leaves were used. Moreover, cold and hot water solubility, and ash determination tests were applied to the test specimens. In the case of mechanical properties of Crimean juniper wood, compression strength, tension strength, bending strength, modulus of elasticity, shear strength and brinell hardness tests were applied. Furthermore, the total color changes between varnished and unvarnished specimens were measured by CIE(Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) L*a*b* and were compared with each other. Varnish adhesion strength and varnish layer hardness of the Crimean juniper wood were measured. The results of anatomical properties of Crimean juniper wood demonstrated that there were bordered pits were found in both tangential and radial walls of tracheid and half bordered pits in the cross field pitings were found as cupressoid type. Moreover, longitudinal direction paranchyma cells was encountered. It was determined that air dry density of wood, over dry density of wood and fiber saturation of wood were respectively 0,58 gr/cm³, 0,55 gr/cm³ and 21,51%. The results also indicated that the bending strength, the modulus of elasticity, the compression strength, the tensile strength and the shear strength were respectively 64,72N/mm², 4403,5N/mm², 35,42N/mm², 55,18N/mm² and 5.41N/mm². Brinell hardness values were 2.79 BHN in tangential section, 2.18 BHN in radial section and 4.5 BHN in cross section. The cone of Crimean juniper tree has the most extractive content as compared to it's leaves and branches. The varnish layer surface hardness in water based varnish was higher than the one in synthetic varnish. On the other hand, the adhesion resistance in synthetic varnish was higher than water based varnish. Similarly, color change in synthetic varnish was higher than the one in water based varnish. In general, Crimean juniper wood is known to be more durable than many other wood species against to decay. It seems beneficial to evaluate new researches in regard with this durability of Crimean juniper wood against the wood decays depends on whether the extractive components of wood itself or low fiber saturation point (FSP) which was found as 21,51% in this study. In addition, the studies on the aromatic and medicinal properties of Crimean juniper wood shall be continued.