COLORIMETRY OF WOODS FROM Eucalyptus AND Corymbia GENUS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH DENSITY

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to characterize the wood color of Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson, Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell, Eucalyptus paniculata Sm. and Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden; and to determine its correlationship with wood density in order to evaluate the potential of colorimetry as a tool for identification and qualification of wood. Color analysis were performed on the CIE L*a*b* system by using the CM 2600d spectrophotometer from Konica Minolta. The results indicated significant differences between wood densities of all species. Eucalyptus paniculata wood presented the highest density while Eucalyptus grandis wood presented the lowest density. Correlation analysis between color and density showed that the denser woods, considering the species from the Eucalyptus genus studied, are darker (lower L*) and present redder (a*) and more yellow (b*) hues. However, the behavior was different for Corymbia citriodora, whose wood had high density, light color and little red hue, indicating that color variables and density combination has potential to segregate the Corymbia citriodora species from other Eucalyptus species studied. The denser woods of Eucalyptus pellita are darker in the radial section, while woods of Eucalyptus paniculata presented more yellow hue (b*) in the tangential section. Each species presented a specific color, given by colorimetric variables, showing the potential of colorimetry for wood identification.