ISSN impresa

0717-3644 Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología 2023 (25): 1, 1-6

ISSN online 0718-221X DOI: 10.4067/s0718-221x2023000100401

QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SELECTED VARIANT OF

Paulownia tomentosa (ROBUST4) WOOD CULTIVATED IN HUNGARY
Szabolcs Komán1,♠

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9511-0277

ABSTRACT

Besides the continuously increasing demand for wood, the significant increase in its price also contributes
to the increasingly broader use of fast-growing wood species and cultivars. Newer variants are continue to
be cross-bred as a result. In case of a new variant within a species, it is questionable how it would adapt to a
particular climatic environment and the quality of wood it would yield. The characteristics of the Paulownia
tomentosa (Robust4) wood obtained from Hungarian plantations of are generally identical to those of the
Paulownia tomentosa. The value of the air dry density - as typically for paulownia species- are very low i.e.
273 kg/m3. Its strength values (compressive strength: 9,6 MPa; tensile strength: 39,3 MPa; bending strength:
41,7 MPa; modulus of elasticity: 4116 MPa; impact bending strength: 1,4 J/cm2) also reach, and in some cases,
exceed those of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. and the Paulownia Clone in vitro 112 variant. Based
on these, we can expect the same wood quality from the Robust4 version as from the other paulownia variants.

Keywords: Mechanical properties, Paulownia tomentosa, Robust4, shrinkage, swelling, wood density.

INTRODUCTION

The current gap between timber demand and supply in the market generates an increasing need for
fast-growing species. The various paulownia species are important examples for such.

Nowadays, they are in widespread cultivation in many plantations worldwide, and they have also been
cross-bred, resulting in a number of inter-species hybrids with even greater growth dynamics. The rapid
growth of paulownia and its resulting high CO2 absorption is a further advantage. The use of the timber of
paulownia species cultivated in short cycles is limited by the log size, which does not permit the production
of full size sawntimber and hence, solid wood components (Kozakiewicz et al. 2020). Of late, research into
the medical properties of paulownia has begun (He et al. 2016). In China, species of the paulownia family
(Paulowniaceae) have been widely used in traditional medicine to treat primarily contagious diseases such
as gonorrhea and erysipelas (Adach et al. 2021). The ethanol production from the hemicellulosic fraction is
another area subject to current research (Domínguez et al. 2021). Given the economic significance of the use
of paulownia sp. the economic significance of its use, its current and potential prospects and the development
of the biotechnological approach to its cultivation are based on the application of micro-breeding technology,
which helps the introduction of paulownia in certain countries (Turganova et al. 2021). Over the recent de-
cades, a number of laboratories researched paulownia sp. aiming to expand the technology of microclonal
reproduction, the study of organogenesis processes, and the elaboration of the protocols of genetic transfor-
mation. (Yadav et al. 2013). Its cultivation opportunities are being sought in regions referred to as the limits
of optimal growth (Icka et al. 2016).

Paulownia is one of the fastest growing trees globally, but its wood also known to have one of the lowest
density. The use of wood is influenced by several factors, with density standing out as one of the critical para-
meters. In terms of wood industrial use, air-dry density is a dominant parameter, which for paulownia is 250
kg/m3 to 300 kg/m3. A determination of wood-chip bulk density, and from the perspective of pulp production,
or particleboard manufacture the determination of basic density may be very important.

1
University of Sopron. Faculty of Wood Engineering and Creative Industries. Institute of Wood Technology and Technical Sciences.
Sopron, Hungary.
♠
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received: 05.08.2021 Accepted: 21.09.2022
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Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología 2023 (25): 1, 1-6 Universidad del Bío-Bío

On a global scale, paulownias are used among others for the production of veneer, plywood, furnitu-
re, paper and cellulose, packaging materials, modelling material, musical instruments, ships, surfboards,
chipboard, insulating materials and decorative objects (Clad and Pommer 1980, Bergmann 1998, Rai et al.
2000).

Over the recent decade, interest in paulownias increased significantly in Europe. However, the
available scientific publications do not give a complete picture of the properties of the wood. Furthermore,
for the various cross-bed variants, reference is often made to the properties of the Paulownia tomentosa. Even
less information is available on the wood of specific plantations and of variants that grow logs of the industrial
size. There are as yet not enough research results available in sufficient depth and volume on what wood qua-
lity (the value and variability of density and different physical-mechanical properties) this species, indigenous
to subtropical climate zones, would yield under temperate conditions. The objective of the present study is
to describe the properties of the wood of the selected paulownia variant Robust4, cultivated in Hungary and
already recognised by the state as a cultivar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The specimens Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud, used for the study were cut from three trunks, each
four years of age and supplied by plantation (H-7812 Garé). The samples were felled at a section 1 m below
breast height. From the examined trunk the following properties were defined based on the relevant standards:
density (DIN 68364 (2003)), swelling and shrinkage (DIN 52184 (1979)), compression strength (DIN 52185
(1976)), tensile strength (DIN 52188 (1979)), static bending strength (DIN 52186 (1978)), modulus of elas-
ticity (DIN 68364 (2003)), and impact bending strength (DIN 52189-1 (1981)). The tests were carried out on
specimens stored under normal climate conditions (T=20 °C; RH=65 %) until equilibrium moisture was rea-
ched. The strength tests were performed using the Instron 4208 universal material tester (Norwood, USA) and
Charpy impact tester (Leominster, England). 25 pcs of test samples were used in each and every examination
cases.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As for the appearance of Robust4, its heartwood has an observable colour. The heartwood is light
yellowish, pink or greyish-brown, while the sapwood has a light yellowish hue. The pith is 2-3 centimetres
wide and is divided into chambers inside the log. The lengths of these chambers vary with the height of the
trunk, being between 9-25 cm along the section examined (Figure 1).

Figure 1: (a) The cross and (b) Longitudinal section of the pith.

The average breast height diameter was 19,3 cm, with an average annual growth of 2,1 cm. Its bark is a
few millimetres thick, which is a very advantageous feature in terms of combustion technology. Generally the
ash content of the bark is several multiples of that of the wood (Komán 2018, Carrión-Prieto et al. 2017, Nosek
et al. 2016).

Immediately after harvesting the average moisture content (wet basis) is very high, i.e. 63 %. This corres-
ponds in terms of order of magnitude to that of the Shan Tong variety, published by Kozakiewicz et al. (2020).
However, it is higher than for other fast-growing species - e.g. poplars (Vusić et al. 2019, Eimil-Fraga et al.
2019).

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Quality characteristics of the selected..: Komán Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología 2023 (25): 1, 1-6

The test results were primarily compared to those of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. (Koman et
al. 2017) and the Paulownia Clone in vitro 112 hybrid (Koman and Feher 2020).

The density of Paulownia tomentosa Robust4, i.e. 273 kg/m3 is – similarly to that of other paulownia va-
riants (Senelwa and Sims 1999, Flynn and Holder 2001, Minato et al. 2005, Kalaycioglu et al. 2005, Akyildiz
and Kol 2010, Kiaei 2013, Hassankhani et al. 2015, Sedlar et al. 2020) is very low (Table 1). Its air dry density,
an important parameter for industrial use, indicates that the Paulownia tomentosa Robust4 is one of the lightest
woods of the world. In comparison to samples of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. also cultivated in
Hungary, it is 9 % lower, while it is 15 % higher than that of Paulownia Clone in vitro 112. Similar proportions
can be observed in case of oven dry and basic density, which are important to know, in regards determination
of wood-chip bulk density, pulp production, or particleboard manufacture.

Table 1: Comparison of the obtained results of wood density tests with data from other studies.

u - moisture content of wood (%) basic density - the ratio between the oven-dry mass of a wood sample and its green volume

The planks were dried using the drying schedules used for the similarly low-density wood of poplar
species. The wood has very favourable shrinkage values (Table 2). In terms of its dimensional stability, it is
among the best wood species. Compared to the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., its dimensional stability
is somewhat more moderate while being practically identical to that of the other variant. Both the shrinkage
and swelling values are of the same order of magnitude as the results published by Akyildiz and Kol (2010).
Shrinkage anisotropy, on the other hand, exceeds 2.

Table 2: Comparison of the obtained results of wood shrinkage and swelling tests with data from other
studies.

Koman et al. (2017); 2Koman and Feher (2020)

1

In accordance with the low density of the wood, the strength values are likewise moderate, not
following the order observable for density in each case (Figure 2, Figure 3). The smallest deviation occurs with
compressive strength. The value of 19,6 MPa equals that of the Paulownia Clone in vitro 112, nearly 11 %
lower than the corresponding value of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. The value of the tensile
strength, however, at 39,3 MPa, is 18 % higher in comparison to the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) SteudFste.
As for the bending strength, the value of 41,7 MPa obtained is identical to the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.)
Steud., being 29 % higher than that of the other variant. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) exceeds the value of
the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. and the other variant by 18 % and 8 % respectively. Of the dynamic
strength properties, the 1,4 J/cm2 value of the impact bending strength is about 14 % lower than the corres-

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Maderas. Ciencia y tecnología 2023 (25): 1, 1-6 Universidad del Bío-Bío

ponding value of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. examined earlier. The strength values obtained,
with the exception of compressive strength are nearly the same to the values found in the relevant literature
(Shim 1948, Barton et al. 2007, Akyildiz and Kol 2010).

Figure 2: Compressive strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the examined paulownias.

Figure 3: Impact bending strength and modulus of elasticity of the examined paulownias.

CONCLUSIONS

In the case of paulownias, it remains a question whether they can remain under the given climatic condi-
tions– primarily due to sub-zero temperatures – and what growth and wood quality they would yield. From
this perspective, the Paulownia tomentosa Robust4 is a selected cultivar that has already been tested under
Hungarian climatic conditions, which has already become a cultivar recognised by the state. The properties of
its wood are identical to those of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud, based on which it can be concluded
that the region’s climatic conditions do not influence the wood quality. Although its density is somewhat lower,
its strength properties nevertheless show no significant deviation from the those of the Paulownia tomentosa
(Thunb.) Steud., even exceeding them in certain cases, as well as those of the Paulownia Clone in vitro 112.
Based on the results, the Paulownia tomentosa Robust4 grown wood of the same quality as the Paulownia
tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., consequently it can supply the same spectrum of application.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is grateful to Ildikó Kanyó the owner and breeder of Robust4 for her contribution in the cutting
and transporting the trunks to the laboratory.
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