Tropical wood dusts—granulometry, morfology and ignition temperature

Abstract

The article considers the granulometric analysis of selected samples of tropical wood dust from cumaru (Dipteryx odorata), padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii), ebony (Diospyros crassiflora), and marblewood (Marmaroxylon racemosum) using a Makita 9556CR 1400 W grinder and K36 sandpaper, for the purpose of selecting the percentages of the various fractions (<63; 63; 71; 200; 315; 500 µm) of wood dust samples. Tropical wood dust samples were made using a hand orbital sander Makita 9556CR 1400 W, and sized using the automatic mesh vibratory sieve machine Retsch AS 200 control. Most dust particles (between 50–79%) from all wood samples were under 100 µm in size. This higher percentage is associated with the risk of inhaling the dust, causing damage to the respiratory system, and the risk of a dust-air explosive mixture. Results of granulometric fractions contribution of tropical woods sanding dust were similar. Ignition temperature was changed by particle sizes, and decreased with a decrease in particle sizes. We found that marblewood has the highest minimum ignition temperature (400–420◦C), and padauk has the lowest (370–390◦C).