Effect of the helix angle of router bits on chip formation and energy consumption during milling of solid wood

The effect of the helix angle of a router bit on chip formation and electric energy per volume (specific energy) under different feed speeds and cutting depths during the milling of maple and China fir by a computer numerically controlled (CNC) router was investigated. The peripheral cutting edge of router bits were custom-made at helix angles of 0°, 2°, 4°, 6°, and 8°. The feed speed varied from 600 to 4800mm/min, and the depths of cut were set at 1,2,3,4, and 6mm. The chips were classified by sieving into a flake type, a splinter type (5 and 10 mesh), a flow type (20 and 40 mesh), and a granule type (< 40 mesh). As the feed speed and the cutting depth increased for the five router bits, more chips of the flake type and the splinter type were produced. However, the number of granule-type chips under the larger helix angle was reduced. The energy per volume removed (specific energy) increased with the feed speed and the depth of cut while milling maple and China fir. More specific energy per cubic centimeter was consumed under the lower feed speeds and the smaller depth of cut. The specific energy can be expressed as a negative power function of the feed speed or the cutting depth for maple and China fir.     

Chemical kinetics of Japanese cedar,cypress, fir,and spruce and characterization of charcoal

 Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses techniques have been applied to investigate the thermal degradation characteristics and chemical kinetics of Japanese cedar, cypress, fir, and spruce. The decomposition of the components could be modeled by an Arrhenius kinetic expression. The kinetic parameters were extracted from the thermogravimetric data using least-squares techniques. The heating rates used for the analyses were 10°, 5°, and 0.33°C/min; and the activation energy and reaction order of the above woods were 7.54, 8.39, 2.87, and 7.88 kJ/mol and 0.71, 0.64, 0.44, and 0.63, respectively. Finally, carbonization was done to produce charcoal from these woods under various operating conditions, and the charcoal was characterized in respect to yield, heating value, electrical conductivity, and X-ray diffraction. The quality of the charcoal from fir was the best among the four types of wood. The charcoal produced is inferior to binchotan (white charcoal) in respect to electrical conductivity and crystalline structure. Received: February 13, 2002 / Accepted: July 12, 2002 Acknowledgment The authors express their gratitude to Professor Yoshida of Applied Chemistry in Tokyo Metropolitan University for performing the TG/DTA in his laboratory and for his valuable suggestions about the analyses.     

C and N stocks under three plantation forest ecosystems of Chinese fir, Michelia macclurei and their mixture

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), a type of subtropical fast-growing conifer tree, is widely distributed in South China. Its plantation area covers more than 7 × 10⁶ hm², accounting for 24% of the total area of plantation forests in the country. In recent decades, the system of successive plantation of Chinese fir has been widely used in southern China due to anticipated high economic return. However, recent studies have documented that the practice of this system has led to dramatic decreases in soil fertility and forest environment as well as in productivity. Some forest ecologists and managers recognize the ecological role performed by broadleaf trees growing in mixtures with conifers, and a great deal of studies on mixture effects have been conducted, particularly on mixture species of temperate and boreal forests, but these research results were not completely consistent. Possibilities include dependence of the mixture effects in large part to specific site conditions, the interactions among species in mixtures and biological characteristics of species. Although some researchers also studied the effects of mixtures of Chinese fir and broadleaf tree species on soil fertility, forest environment and tree growth status, little information is available about the effects of Chinese fir and its mixtures with broadleaves on carbon and nitrogen stocks. The experimental site is situated at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hunan Province (26°40′–27°09′ N, 109°26′–110°08′ E). It is located at the transition zone from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the low mountains and hills of the southern bank of the Yangtze River at an altitude of 300–1,100 m above mean sea level. At the same time, the site is also a member of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This region has a humid mid-subtropical monsoon climate with a mean annual precipitation of 1,200–1,400 mm, most of the rain falling between April and August, and a mean temperature of 16.5°C with a mean minimum of 4.9°C in January and a mean maximum of 26.6°C in July. The experimental field has red-yellow soil. After a clear-cutting of the first generation Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation forest in 1982, three different plantation forest ecosystems, viz. mixture of Michelia macclurei and Chinese fir (MCM), pure Michelia macclurei stand (PMS) and pure Chinese fir stand (PCS), were established in the spring of 1983. A comparative study on C and N stocks under these three plantation forest ecosystems was conducted in 2004. Results showed that carbon stocks were greater under the mixtures than under the pure Chinese fir forest and the pure broad-leaved forest, and the broadleaves and the mixtures showed higher values in nitrogen stocks compared with the pure Chinese fir forest. The spatial distribution of carbon and nitrogen stocks was basically consistent, the value being greater in soil layer, followed by tree layer, roots, understory and litter layer. The carbon and nitrogen stocks in soil layer were both highly correlated with the biomass in understory and litter layer, indicating that understory and forest litterfall exerted a profound effect on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks under plantation ecosystems. However, correlations among soil carbon, nitrogen stocks and below ground biomass of stand have not been observed in this study. Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(12): 3,146–3,154 [译自: 生态学报]     

Influence of accessory substances,wood density and interlocked grain on the compressive properties of hardwoods

Wood samples of nine tropical hardwoods from Peru and sugar maple wood from Quebec were selected to perform moisture sorption tests associated with parallel-to-grain and tangential compression tests using a multiple step procedure at 25°C. Cold-water and hot-water extractives, sequential cyclohexane (CYC), acetone (ACE) and methanol (MET) extracts, ash content (ASH), wood density and interlocked grain (IG) were evaluated on matched samples too. Wood density corrected for the accessory substances was by far the major factor positively affecting the compressive properties of tropical hardwoods. The total amount of accessory substances is required in order to establish better relationships between physico–mechanical properties and density of tropical hardwoods. For a given wood density, the ultimate stress in parallel-to-grain compression was higher in tropical hardwoods than in temperate hardwoods. However, the compliance coefficients for both types of woods were quite similar. Sequential extraction with organic solvents was the most suitable method for evaluating the effect of extractives on compressive properties of tropical hardwoods. The CYC and ACE fractions did not contribute to variation in these mechanical properties. The substances dissolved in MET affected positively the compliance coefficient s ₁₁ in parallel-to-grain compression and negatively the compliance coefficient s ₃₃ in tangential compression. The IG decreased the compliance coefficient s ₁₁ but also decreased the ultimate stress in parallel-to-grain compression. Finally, variations in compressive properties that were due to changes in equilibrium moisture content (EMC) were clearly influenced by wood density; denser woods were more sensitive to changes in EMC than lighter woods.     

温度对杉木林土壤呼吸的影响(英文)

Soil samples collected from the surface soil (0(10 cm) in an 88-year-old Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forest in Nanping, Fujian, China were incubated for 90 days at the temperatures of 15°C, 25°C and 35°C in laboratory. The soil CO2 evolution rates were measured at the incubation time of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 days. The results showed that CO2 evolution rates of soil samples varied significantly with incubation time and temperature during the incubation period. Mean CO2 evolution rate and cumulative amount of CO2 evolution from soil were highest at 35°C, followed by those at 25°C, and 15°C. Substantial differences in CO2 evolution rate were found in Q10 values calculated for the 2nd and 90th day of incubation. The Q10 value for the average CO2 evolution rate was 2.0 at the temperature range of 15-25°C, but it decreased to 1.2 at 25- 35°C. Soil CO2 evolution rates decreased with the incubation time. The cumulative mineralized C at the end of incubation period (on the 90th day) was less than 10% of the initial C amounts prior to incubation.     

Long‐term survival and non‐vector spread of the pinewood nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus,via wood chips

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causal agent of pine wilt disease and is transmitted to new host trees by beetles of the genus Monochamus. The increasing interest in imported wood chips from North America for paper production and energy purposes and the corresponding phytosanitary risk of non‐vector transmission of B. xylophilus has been discussed since 1984, the year of the first interception of B. xylophilus in wood chips in the European Union. The long‐term survival of B. xylophilus in wood chips and its non‐vector spread from infested wood chips to non‐infested trees were studied. Pinus sylvestris logs were inoculated with a suspension of B. xylophilus to produce infested wood chips. During the long‐term storage test, B. xylophilus in P. sylvestris wood chips were examined. Four variants, including sealed and openly stored wood chips at both 15°C and 25°C, were studied. For the test of non‐vector spread, B. xylophilus ‐infested wood chips were placed on three‐ to four‐year‐old P. sylvestris saplings under different conditions. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus survived for more than 1 year at both temperatures in the sealed wood chips, which was significantly longer than for the openly stored variant at 25°C. Temperature, tree condition and wood chip location all influenced non‐vector spread through wood chips. Of the 480 trees that were in contact with infested wood chips and showed clear symptoms of pine wilt disease, B. xylophilus were extracted from 42 pines at 25°C and one pine at 15°C. The highest B. xylophilus infestation rates resulting in clear pine wilt disease symptoms (75%) were found in infested wood chips directly attached to stem‐wounded trees at 25°C. However, more variants exhibited B. xylophilus infestation at this temperature; trees with stem or root injuries plus direct contact with infested wood chips to the wounded part were primarily affected. Moreover, non‐vector spread was also detected in stem‐ and root‐injured pines without any direct contact with infested wood chips. Our results confirmed that B. xylophilus can survive for long periods in wood chips and can be transmitted from infested wood chips to damaged trees, but the likelihood of such PWN establishment should be low compared to spread through vectors. These findings must be considered in the pest risk analysis of B. xylophilus, and studies using outdoor trials should be carried out to complete this pest risk analysis.     

Mechanical properties assessment of Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation wood with three acoustic-based nondestructive methods

The objectives of this study were to establish the method of evaluating wood mechanical properties by acoustic nondestructive testing at standing trees and at logs of a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantation, and to compare three acoustic nondestructive methods for evaluating the static bending modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compressive strength parallel-to-grain (σ_c) of plantation wood as well. Fifteen Chinese fir plantation trees at 36 years of age were selected. Each tree was cut into four logs, for which three values of dynamic modulus of elasticity, i.e., E _sw, of the north and south face based on stress waves to assume the measuring state of the standing tree, E _fr, longitudinal vibration, and E _us, ultrasonic wave, were measured in the green condition. After log measurements, small specimens were cut and air-dried to 12% moisture content (MC). Static bending tests were then performed to determine the bending MOE and MOR, and compressive tests parallel-to-grain were made to determine σ_c. The bending MOE of small clear specimens was about 7.1% and 15.4% less than E _sw and E _us, respectively, and 11.3% greater than E _fr. The differences between the bending MOE and dynamic MOE of logs as determined by the three acoustic methods were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Good correlation (R = 0.77, 0.57, and 0.45) between E _sw, E _fr, and E _us and static MOE, respectively, were obtained (P < 0.001). It can be concluded that longitudinal vibration may be the most precise and reliable technique to evaluate the mechanical properties of logs among these three acoustic nondestructive methods. Moreover, the results indicate that stress wave technology would be effective to evaluate wood mechanical properties both from logs and from the standing tree.     

冷湿层积法对印度冷杉(Abies pindrow)和长叶云杉(Picea smithiana）种子萌发的影响

研究赤霉素(GA3),冷湿和温度 对五个种源的印度冷杉(Abies pindrow)和长叶云杉(Picea smithiana)种子萌发的影响.种子被浸泡在GA3 (10 mg(L-1)中24小时,然后在3(5(C温度的条件下冷藏15天.设计4个温度(10(C, 15(C, 20(C 和 25(C)条件来促进种子的萌发.结果表明,浸泡和冷湿处理明显增加种子的萌发率.在10 (C时种子的萌发率最高.总体结果表明,种子被浸泡在GA3 (10 mg(L-1)中24小时,冷湿藏15天,可以有效地促进印度冷杉和长叶云杉的种子萌发.统计数据表明,浸泡处理、温度和种源以及与温度的相互作用都对种子的萌发有明显的影响.     

Optimizing SSR-PCR system of Panax ginseng by orthogonal design

An orthogonal design was used to optimize SSR-PCR amplification system using Panax ginseng genomic DNA as template. Four levels of five factors （DNA template, Taq DNA polymerase, Mg^2＋, primer, and dNTP） and annealing temperature have been tested separately in this system. The results demonstrated the reaction efficiency was affected by these factors. Based on the results, a stable, productive and reproducible PCR system and cycling program for amplifying a ginseng SSR locus were obtained： 20 μL system containing 1.0 U Taq DNA polymerase, 2.0 mmol·L^-1 Mg^2＋, 0.2 mmol·L^-1 dNTPs, 0.3 μmol·L^-1 SSR primer, 60 ng· μla^-1 DNA template, performed with a program of 94℃ for 5 min, 94℃ for 30 s, annealing at 56.3℃ for 30 s, 72℃ for 1 min, 37 cycles, finishing at 72℃ for 7 min, and storing at 4℃.     

Biomass Production and Chemical Composition of Moringa oleifera under Different Management Regimes in Nicaragua

The effects of different planting densities (250,000, 500,000 and 750,000 plants ha⁻¹) and cutting frequencies (45, 60 and 75 days) on the biomass production and chemical composition of Moringa oleifera was studied in a completely randomised split plot design with four blocks, in Managua, Nicaragua, located geographically at 12°08′15′′ N and 86°09′36′′ E. The 75 day cutting frequency produced the highest fresh matter yield, 100.7 and 57.4 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and dry matter (DM) yield, 24.7 and 10.4 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, during the first and second year, respectively. All planting densities produced the highest DM yield at 75 day cutting frequency. In the first year, the density of 750,000 plants ha⁻¹ produced the highest fresh matter yield, 88.0 Mg ha⁻¹ and highest DM yield, 18.9 Mg ha⁻¹, but in the second year the density of 500,000 plants ha⁻¹ gave the highest yields, 46.2 Mg ha⁻¹ and 8.1 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. During the first year, DM (22.8%), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (30.8%) and ash (9.14%) contents were highest and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) (68.2%) was lowest in the longest cutting interval, while contents of crude protein (CP) (22.8%) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (22.8%) were not affected significantly by cutting frequency. In the second year, DM and CP contents and IVDMD were not significantly affected by cutting frequency, whereas NDF, ADF and ash contents were lowest in the 60 day cutting frequency. Planting density had no significant effect on chemical composition or IVDMD. These data suggest that Moringa forage could be an interesting protein supplement for ruminants.     

Schima superba as a fuelbreak: Litter combustibility of three tree species with five water content levels using a cone calorimeter

To determine the suitability of Schima superba Gardn. et Champ as a fuelbreak, we compared and analyzed the flammability characteristics of tree litter from three trees commonly grown in south China, i.e., Pinus massoniana Lamb., Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., and S. superba, using a cone calorimeter at five different water content levels. Water content levels of 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% for the litter were manually produced with a new technique of adding water to dry litter. The cone calorimeter utilized a radiant heat intensity for leaf litter of 20 kW/m² (510°C) and for twig litter of 30 kW/m² (608°C). Results show that fixing the water content level by adding water with a pipette was an acceptable technique. For S. superba, compared to P. massoniana and C. lanceolata, 1) the heat release rate (HRR) was slower and lower; 2) the total heat released (THR) from the material was lower and started later in the burning process; and 3) except for the 10% water content, pkHRR/TTI was less. These results show that overall, S. superba was the best of the three species to be used as a fuelbreak in south China. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2008, 44(5): 96–101 [译自: 林 业科学]     

Comparison of the decomposition behaviors of hardwood and softwood in supercritical methanol

 The chemical conversion of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) woods in supercritical methanol was studied using the supercritical fluid biomass conversion system with a batch-type reaction vessel. Under conditions of 270°C/27 MPa, beech wood was decomposed and liquefied to a greater extent than cedar wood, and the difference observed was thought to originate mainly from differences in the intrinsic properties of the lignin structures of hardwood and softwood. However, such a difference was not observed at 350°C/43 MPa, and more than 90% of both beech and cedar woods were effectively decomposed and liquefied after 30 min of treatment. This result indicates that the supercritical methanol treatment is expected to be an efficient tool for converting the woody biomass to lower-molecular-weight products, such as liquid fuels and useful chemicals. Received: December 19, 2001 / Accepted: March 15, 2002 Acknowledgments This research has been done under the research program for the development of technologies for establishing an eco-system based on recycling in rural villages for the twenty-first century from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan and by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2) (no.12460144, 2001.4–2003.3) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. This study was presented in part at the 45th Lignin Symposium, Ehime, Japan, October 2000 and the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, Japan, April 2001. Correspondence to:S. Saka     

Optimal germination condition by sulfuric acid pretreatment to improve seed germination of Sabina vulgaris Ant.

Understanding the germination traits of plants is important not only for understanding natural regeneration processes but also for developing seedling production techniques for planting. Sabina vulgaris Ant. is a common species used for reforestation in semi-arid areas of the Mu-Us Desert, in Inner Mongolia, China, but its extremely low germination rate, both in situ and in vivo, is a bottleneck for seedling production. Sulfuric acid pretreatment was applied to improve germination, and the germination rate was compared for different soaking time (10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min), different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 30, and 35°C) and under different lighting conditions (dark and light). Sulfuric acid treatment gave a high germination rate, reaching 60% at 30 days after sowing. However, the non-treated seeds produced no germination. The optimal treatment time in sulfuric acid was 120 min. Germination after sulfuric acid treatment increased at incubation temperatures from 10 to 30°C, but decreased at 35°C. Incubation at 25–30°C gave maximum germination of more than 50%. Light treatment had little effect on germination. Pretreatment with sulfuric acid improved water absorption by the embryo by creating cracks and cavities in the seed coat tissue. These results indicated that S. vulgaris seeds have physical dormancy caused by their hard seed coats, which prevents absorption of water into the embryo. A combination of pretreatment with sulfuric acid and incubation at 25–30°C was most effective in improving the germination of S. vulgaris seeds.     

Concentrations and seasonal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon in forest floors of two plantations （Castanopsis kawakamii and Cunninghamia lanceolata） in subtropical China

The concentrations and seasonal dynamics of DOC in forest floors of monoculture plantations ofCastanopsis kawakamii and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) were assessed in Sanming, Fujian, China (26°11′30″N, 117°26′00″E). Forest floor samples were taken in January, April, July and October in 2002 and divided into undecomposed material (horizon Oi), partially decomposed organic material (horizon Oe), and fully decomposed organic material (horizon Oa). Upon collection, DOC concentrations of samples were analyzed by a High Temperature TOC. The results showed that the annual average DOC concentration of Chinese fir (1341.7 mg·kg⁻¹) in the forest floor was higher than that ofCastanopsis kawakamii (1178.9 mg·kg⁻¹). Difference in DOC concentrations was observed among three horizons of the forest floor. DOC concentration of forest floor in the two forests was the highest in horizon Oe. Seasonal trends of DOC concentrations in different horizons of forest floors were similar and the maximal value occurred in autumn (or winter). The concentration and temporal change of DOC in studied forests were probably related to the variation in moisture, temperature, biological activity and quantity of organic matter in the forest floor. Foundation item: This study was supported by the Teaching and Research Award program for MOE P.R.C. (TRAPOYT) Biography: ZHANG Jiang-shan (1946-), male, Researcher in Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, P.R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

Organic acid exudation from the roots of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana seedlings under low phosphorus stress

Organic acid exudation from the roots of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) seedlings under low phosphorus stress was studied using the solution culture method. The results revealed that organic acid exudation from the roots of Chinese fir and Masson pine seedlings under low phosphorus stress increased. Compared with P₃ (KH₂PO₄, 0.5 mmol/L), the average organic acid exudation from the root of Masson pine seedlings under P₀ (KH₂PO₄, 0 mmol/L), P₁ (KH₂PO₄, 0.03 mmol/L) and P₂ (KH₂PO₄, 0.09 mmol/L) increased by 328.6%, 267.9% and 126.4% respectively. Masson pine from Zhejiang Province in China had the highest organic acid exudation. Under low phosphorus stress, the increase in organic acid exudation from the different provinces of Chinese fir and Masson pine varied. Masson pine from Zhejiang Province mainly increased oxalic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and malic acid exudation, that from Guangxi Province mainly increased oxalic acid and tartaric acid exudation, and that from Guizhou Province, China mainly increased oxalic acid, tartaric acid and malic acid exudation. Chinese fir mainly increased oxalic acid and tartaric acid exudation. __________ Translated from Journal of Nanjing Forestry University, 2007, 31(2): 9–12 [译自: 南京林业大学学报]     

Mechanical parameters during static bending of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus radiata</Emphasis> growing in a silvopastoral system I: elasticity and strength

 The effects of pasture fertilization frequency and two vertical positions in the stem on elasticity and strength parameters during static bending (modulus of elasticity, stress at proportional limit, modulus of rupture) of Pinus radiata wood growing in a silvopastoral system were evaluated. Twenty-seven trees were selected randomly from three silvopastoral trials established at Tanumé Experimental Center (34°9′–34°15′ S; 72°53′–72°59′ W). The results indicated that pasture fertilization frequency had no significant effect on the physical and mechanical parameters evaluated. However, the vertical position in the stem did have a significant effect on stress at the proportional limit and on the modulus of rupture due to different average values for the annual ring width and nominal density found in the specimens obtained from logs at two different heights of the stem. Received: February 20, 2002 / Accepted: June 5, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank the following institutions and people for their support: CONAF, VI Region; Dr. Rolando Rodríguez, CONAF VIII Region; Cesar Cabrera, Forestry Engineer, CONAF VI Region; Osvaldo Herrera, Director of Experimental Center “Tanumé”; Dr. Manuel Sánchez, Faculty of Forestry Sciences, University of Concepción; Dr. Glenn Hofmann, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, University of Concepción; Alex Opazo, M.Sc.(C), Faculty of Forestry Sciences, University of Concepción; Staff of Experimental Center “Tanumé”. Correspondence to:M.H.R. Vidal     

Effect of impact velocity on the fracture of wood as related to the mechanical pulping process

 The fiber separation step in refining is crucial for energy consumption in subsequent refining where the pulp properties are developed. The size reduction of chips during refining is dependent on refining intensity and chip strength. Factors affecting these two parameters are discussed in a literature review. The impact strength of chips and the break down of chips to separate fibers are also discussed. Specifically the effect of impact velocity on the fracture of wood has been studied by use of a falling weight impact tester. Samples were prepared from a freshly cut log of Norway spruce, Picea abies, and the impact strength was measured using an instrumented falling weight impact tester. An increase in impact velocity from about 2.7 to 4.8 m/s resulted in an increase in impact strength of about 50%. Received 23 August 1999     

Green color protection of bamboo culms using one-step alkali pretreatment-free process

This study evaluated the protection effectiveness of alcohol-borne reagents for the green color of ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) and moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel). The results show that the types and concentrations of alcohol-borne reagents, the kinds of solvent, and the conditions of treatment greatly affected the green color of these two bamboo species. Without alkali pretreatment, an excellent green color protection (a* = −14.5) was obtained when the ma bamboo culms were treated with 0.5% methanol-borne copper chloride (CuCl₂) at 60°C for 30 min. Similar results were also obtained when ma bamboo culms were treated with 0.5% methanol-borne copper nitrate [Cu(NO₃)₂] at 60°C for 2 h (a* = −13.5). For moso bamboo, an attractive green color in the bamboo culms was achieved by treating the specimens with 1% methanol-borne copper acetate [Cu(CH₃COO)₂] at 60°C for 30 min. The a* value of treated specimens was −13.3. In addition, results demonstrated that ultrasonic treatment was more effective on green color protection than conventional water bath treatment. When moso bamboo was treated with 1% copper acetate at 60°C in an ultrasonic bath for only 15 min, a remarkable green color with an a* value of −13.6 was obtained on the bamboo epidermis.     

Dynamic viscoelastic behavior of wood under drying conditions

In this study heartwood from a Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook] plantation was treated using a high-temperature drying (HTD) method at 115°C, a low-temperature drying (LTD) method at 65°C, and freeze vacuum drying (FVD), respectively. The dynamic viscoelastic properties of dried wood specimens were investigated. The measurements were carried out at a temperature range of −120 to 250°C at four different frequencies (1, 2, 5, and 10 Hz) using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). We have drawn the following conclusions: 1) the storage modulus E′ and loss modulus E″ are the highest for HTD wood and the lowest for FVD wood; 2) three relaxation processes were detected in HTD and LTD wood, attributed to the micro-Brownian motion of cell wall polymers in the non-crystalline region, the oscillations of the torso of cell wall polymers, and the motions of the methyl groups of cell wall polymers in the non-crystalline region in a decreasing order of temperatures at which they occurred; and 3) in FVD wood, four relaxation processes were observed. A newly added relaxation is attributed to the micro-Brownian motions of lignin molecules. This study suggests that both the HTD and the LTD methods restrict the micro-Brownian motion of lignin molecules somewhat by the cross-linking of chains due to their heating history. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2008, 30(3): 96–100 [译自: 北京林业大学学报]     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) II: Changes in mechanical properties due to heating

Japanese cedar wood specimens were steamed at 80°, 100°, and 120°C over 14 days, and their equilibrium moisture content (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity, longitudinal dynamic Young’s modulus (E), bending strength (σ _max), and breaking strain (ε _max) were compared with those of unheated specimens. Steaming for a longer duration at a higher temperature resulted in a greater reduction in M, σ _max, and ε _max. The E of wood was slightly enhanced by steaming at 100°C for 1–4 days and 120°C for 1–2 days, and thereafter it decreased. The slight increase in the E of sapwood was attributable to the reduction in hygroscopicity, while sufficient explanation was not given for a greater increase in the heartwood stiffness. Irrespective of the steaming temperature, the correlations between M and the mechanical properties of steamed wood were expressed in terms of simple curves. M values above 8% indicated a slight reduction in E and s max, whereas M values below 8% indicated a marked decrease in the mechanical performances. In addition, the e max decreased almost linearly with a decrease in the value of M. These results suggest that hygroscopicity measurement enables the evaluation of degradation in the mechanical performances of wood caused by steaming at high temperatures.