Synergistic Effects of Heating Platens’ Temperature and Compression Ratio on the Periodic Hot-Press Drying of Chinese Fir Lumber

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

After studying the article, I learned little new information, I think that the authors did a good research of the work but stated few scientific benefits.

The authors should revise the title of the article, because the title should not indicate the thickness of the lumber.

The concept of the article is good and the overall design (text, images, graphs) but I miss something new in it.

I recommend the authors to examine the issue in more detail in the wider world, not only in the narrow scope of their scope.

I lack a comparison of results from other authors in the entire work, there are reference links in the introduction, but none in the discussion. I think it is necessary to compare your results or findings with other authors in the world.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript presents experimental results of hot press drying of Chinese fir lumber considering two variables, the temperature of the platens and the compression ratio. The research findings are interesting and the manuscript is well written. 

The manuscript need to be added some information related to the following suggestions:

- it  would be useful to indicate a relation of the compression ratio (I suppose it is the ratio of the final thickness to the initial thickness, but this should be clearly expressed)

- line 311: what means breathing cycle? 

- the pressure drop shown in Fig. 10 should also be explained in a relation

- in a future research it would be interesting to use a two-factor optimization method related to drying time and wood quality

Comments on the Quality of English Language

There are minor English errors throughout the text.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Reviewer #: Manuscript Number: forests-2791666

Full Title: Synergistic effects of heating platens’ temperature and compression ratio on periodic hot-press drying of 30 mm-thickness Chinese fir lumber

Article Type: Original Research

Keywords: periodic hot-press drying; Chinese fir lumber; mechanical damage; temperature; pressure

Dear Editor,

Minor Revision

The overall presentation is average, while the authors should clarify the following issue.

The aim of the study “The effects of periodic hot-press drying on drying rate, microstructure and cell wall pore structure of Chinese fir lumber”

Figure 2 and figure 7 should be rearranged. Image quality is poor

What are the moisture values of the samples before and after the test?

What was the volumetric shrinkage rate of the material?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

After studying the post, I evaluate the authors have incorporated some comments.