Wood Dictionary Betterwood Technical Terms

Technical drying

Artificial drying, also known internationally as kiln dried, takes place under artificial climatic conditions, in contrast to open-air drying, mostly in chambers or flow channels. By appropriate control or regulation of the climate, significantly lower final moisture content and shorter drying times can be achieved than with outdoor drying. Pre-drying often takes place in the open air and then artificial drying (see: Relaxation), especially in the case of heavily dimensioned sawn timber. Technical drying (KD) is better for dimensional stability than exclusive air drying (AD).