木材-SiO2醇凝胶复合材的超临界干燥工艺

采用超临界CO2流体对木材-SiO2醇凝胶复合材的干燥工艺进行研究.结果表明:由于受到木材的包围,木材-SiO2醇凝胶复合材的超临界干燥工艺条件最终确定为动态和静态干燥温度为50℃,动态和静态压力为25 MPa,动态干燥时间为180 min.经扫描电镜观察,木材-SiO2气凝胶在微观上有良好的网络结构,SiO2气凝胶与木材有良好的结合并保持木材的孔隙结构.通过透射电镜观测,所制备的木材-SiO2气凝胶复合材料中的SiO2气凝胶是由直径约13～300 nm的SiO2颗粒构成的连续网络结构.超临界c02流体干燥的木材-SiO2气凝胶复合材表现突出的增容现象,由于紫椴与西南桤木结构不同,两者的增容率有较大的差异,西南桤木的增容率约为紫椴木材的1/2左右.     

溶胶-凝胶法功能性改良木材研究进展

基于木材天然的双重毛细管系统结构，金属醇盐可在木材"微/纳米容器"内进行溶胶-凝胶反应最终制备木材-无机复合材料。在溶胶-凝胶改良木材过程中，以金属醇盐为主要组分的前驱体溶液可通过涂覆、浸渍/真空加压浸渍、微波/超声波辅助等方式对木材进行改性，且木材密度、基材初始含水率、溶胶反应体系、溶胶粒径、溶胶pH值等对木材溶胶-凝胶改性效果都会有一定的影响。文中主要从制备方法和影响因素2个方面对溶胶-凝胶法功能性改良木材的研究现状进行归纳总结，并提出溶胶-凝胶功能性改良木材的应用前景和发展方向。     

有机硅溶胶-凝胶法改性木材Si元素的分布状态

采用正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为改性剂先驱体,通过溶胶-凝胶法处理木材,以改善木材性能.为了探究有机硅溶胶-凝胶法改性处理木材的作用机理,应用电镜-能谱方法,分析改性木材中的碳、氧、硅三种元素的相对含量及分布状态.结果表明:随着增重率的增加,硅元素的相对质量分数不断升高,而碳元素相对质量分数降低,氧元素先降低后升高;验证了在木材内部SiO2的生成,而且硅元素主要分布在木材细胞壁表面.     

SiO2溶胶空细胞法浸渍处理木材工艺

对SiO2溶胶溶液半限注法浸渍处理紫椴和西南桤木的工艺进行研究.结果表明;si02溶胶对木材的渗透应主要考虑压力和加压时间以及树种的影响,考虑木材的变异性所造成的试验数据的波动,确定siO2溶胶的浸渍工艺条件为压力0.8 MPa,压力时间30 min,后真空度为0.090 MPa,保持10 min.通过X射线能谱图分析,在木材细胞壁的位置能看到排列均匀的siO2,说明在木材外部进行溶胶-凝胶化过程,然后采取空细胞法将溶胶注入到木材中,简化了制备工艺条件,提高了原料利用率.     

木材、竹材及其炭化物负载SiO2凝胶的比较

采用单一浓度溶胶浸渍和梯度浓度溶胶浸渍2种方法将SiO2溶胶注入竹材、木材、竹炭和木炭4种材料内部,探讨材料微观结构、炭化前后、溶胶浓度以及浸渍方法对材料凝胶负载率的影响.结果表明:竹材的SiO2凝胶负载率低于竹炭,二者的凝胶负载率显著小于木材和木炭;木材和木炭凝胶负载性能差异与所浸渍溶胶的浓度有关;相比于使用单一浓度浸渍,浓度梯度法浸渍可有效提高材料的负载率.     

外负载TiO2功能化改性木材研究现状

TiO₂作为一种新型无机纳米改性剂,对于改善木材尺寸稳定性差、易燃、易朽、不耐虫蛀、易变色、耐老化性差等缺点,赋予其新的功能性具有良好的效果。文中主要对比了TiO₂负载木材的方法,即表面涂覆、水热法、溶胶—凝胶法和超声波辅助溶胶—凝胶法的机理和优缺点;分析了TiO₂改性对木材内部构造及微观结构的影响,归纳了TiO₂改性对木材吸湿性和力学性能的影响;概述了TiO₂在防水、阻燃、防腐、耐候、防变色、光催化和亲疏水双面功能型木材及磁吸附木材中的应用研究现状;归纳总结了TiO₂在改性木材科学研究中存在的问题,并提出合理建议,以期为实际生产和科学研究提供参考。     

乐器共鸣板用木材声学振动性能改良研究现状及趋势

木材是制作乐器共鸣板的重要材料,木材的声学性能在很大程度上决定了乐器的声学品质。文中在分析乐器板用木材声学振动性能改良的着手点与切入点的基础上,总结木材声学振动性能改良方面的研究进展,认为以下几个方面将成为未来研究的热点:1)从弹性模量、比弹性模量、声辐射品质常数和声阻抗等指标出发进行木材声学性能功能性改良研究;2)开展乐器共鸣板用木材的替代树种用材的功能性改良研究,扩大可用于制作乐器共鸣板的资源范围;3)从改善木材声学振动效率和振动音色角度进行木材功能性改良的研究;4)开展新型的乐器共鸣板用材研究。     

罗汉柏木烯合成罗汉柏木二醇研究

以罗汉柏木烯为原料,KMnO₄为氧化剂,叔丁醇/水（体积比2∶1）为溶剂,通过罗汉柏木烯的双羟基化反应合成得到了罗汉柏木二醇。考察了反应条件对双羟基化反应的影响,得到最佳工艺条件为：反应温度40℃,n（KMnO₄）∶n（罗汉柏木烯）=1.8∶1,反应时间3 h, KMnO₄水溶液质量分数为5%。在此条件下,罗汉柏木烯的转化率为98.3%,罗汉柏木二醇的收率和选择性分别为88.7%和90.2%。采用GC-MS、FT-IR和¹H NMR等方法对产物结构进行了表征,确定产物为罗汉柏木二醇。     

初始含水率对SiO2溶胶在两种木材中渗透性的影响

采用两种粒径（30 nm和150 nm）的SiO2溶胶真空浸渍不同含水率（绝干、气干、调湿）的欧洲赤松和南方松边材,比较其24 h内吸液率变化规律和24 h增重率,并通过质量法分析硅溶胶处理材轴向SiO2的浓度梯度,从而考察处理材的初始含水率对SiO2溶胶在木材中渗透性的影响。研究结果表明：（1）两种木材均在绝干状态下吸液率最低,30 nm硅溶胶在气干状态下吸液率最高,而150 nm硅溶胶在调湿状态下吸液率最高。（2）初始含水率对增重率的影响与吸液率不同,30 nm硅溶胶在调湿状态下浸渍木材的增重率低于绝干状态,欧洲赤松气干状态的增重率最高。（3）初始含水率对试材中整体SiO2量的影响与增重率结果基本一致,欧洲赤松中SiO2轴向分布梯度远高于南方松,其渗透的均匀性较差。     

-蒎烯水合反应研究

在超临界二氧化碳流体下,用SO42-/Zr-MCM-41中孔分子筛作催化剂催化α-蒎烯水合反应。SO42-/Zr-MCM-41在超临界CO2下比常规条件下显示出对松油醇更高的选择性,并保持了在常规条件下的高催化活性。考察了在超临界CO2条件下,不同反应条件对反应的影响,得到了较佳的工艺条件,即:氯乙酸、松节油及水的物质的量之比为1∶1∶3,催化剂用量为松节油质量的7.5%,S i/Zr物质的量之比1∶0.05,60℃反应8 h。在此条件下,松节油的转化率达94%,对松油醇的选择性达88%。     

Growth of Phlebiopsis gigantea in wood of seven conifer species

Heterobasidion parviporum and Heterobasidion annosum are widely distributed root‐rot fungi that infect conifers throughout Europe. Infection of conifer stumps by spores of these pathogens can be controlled by treating fresh stumps with a competing non‐pathogenic fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea. In this study, growth of three Latvian strains of P. gigantea and the biological control agent ‘Rotstop’ strain was evaluated in stem pieces of Norway spruce, Scots pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas‐fir, Weymouth pine, Siberian larch and Sitka spruce. The growth rates of one H. parviporum and one H. annosum isolate were also measured in the same stem pieces. The growth rate of P. gigantea varied greatly in wood of different conifer species. It was higher in the three pine species, lower in Norway spruce and lowest in Sitka spruce and Siberian larch, and in Douglas‐fir, this fungus did not grow. The largest area of wood occupied by P. gigantea was in lodgepole pine. Growth of Latvian isolates of P. gigantea in the wood of Pinus and Picea species was comparable to that of the Rotstop isolate. Consequently, stump treatment with local P. gigantea isolates should be recommended. However, our results suggest that Douglas‐fir stump treatment against Heterobasidion by P. gigantea may be ineffective and other stump treatment methods should be considered.     

Growth of Mixed Birch-Coniferous Stands in Relation to Pure Coniferous Stands at Similar Sites in South-eastern Norway

Mean age, mean and top heights and yield were studied in 20 mixed stands of birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. and nine mixed stands of birch and Pinus sylvestris L. in south-eastern Norway. Each mixed stand and the adjacent pure coniferous stand (control) were growing under the same site conditions and had not been commercially thinned. There were no significant differences in mean age at breast height or in top heights between birch and conifers in the mixed stands, while mean height was significantly higher for birch than for spruce. A growth index was calculated based on total volume and age at breast height. For the spruce sites the growth in young mixed stands (birch < 17 m) was superior to that of pure spruce, while the difference was insignificant in older stands. The growth index correlated positively with the ratio between generatively and vegetatively regenerated birch trees, and negatively with the age of the oldest species in the mixture and with site quality. For the pine sites there was no significant difference in the growth index between mixed birch-pine and pure pine stands. A mixture effect of birch on the volume yield of spruce or pine could not be demonstrated.     

Defoliation by the Needle-shortening Pine Gall Midge,Thecodiplosis brachyntera,on Pines in Central Sweden

An outbreak of the needle-shortening pine gall midge, Thecodiplosis brachyntera , occurred on Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris (L.) and lodgepole pine, P. contorta (Dougl.) in central Sweden during 1995-1998. The larval feeding of T. brachyntera kills current-year needles and heavy infestation causes severe defoliation. A pattern of fluctuating defoliation among years and sites was found on both pine species. Defoliation was evenly distributed in the crown of P. sylvestris during years of high as well as low infestation; apical whorls had as much defoliation as basal whorls. In P. contorta , however, there was a tendency for defoliation to be concentrated on branches in the most apical whorls. Growth ring increments on P. sylvestris with high levels of defoliation (71%) did not differ from trees with moderate levels (26%) of defoliation. Shoot lengths were significantly shorter, however, on heavily infested trees the year after defoliation.     

Boron in forest trees and forest ecosystems

This review critically examines the role of boron (B) in forests in view of recent findings on B nutrition and the continuing occurrence of B deficiency. Many perceptions about the role of B in plants and its uptake and mobility have been altered since the last review on B in forest trees in 1990. Now there is evidence for a fundamental role of B in the formation of the pectic structure in primary cell walls in plants, and further roles in membrane function are being explored. In plants, channel-mediated B uptake, active B uptake and B uptake by mycorrhizas have been shown, B transporters have been identified, and B retranslocation has been shown. We explore these findings and their consequences on forest trees and on ecosystems that they dominate. Particular emphasis is placed on B retranslocation and B in mycorrhizal symbiosis, given their importance in trees.     

Survival and Growth of Picea abies Regeneration after Shelterwood Removal with Single- and Double-grip Harvester Systems

Three stands in Sweden were followed for 7 yrs to study the survival and growth of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] regeneration after shelterwood removal with single- and double-grip harvester systems. The height of all seedlings within circular plots was recorded before and after final cutting. The tallest seedling and one randomly selected seedling on each circular plot were permanently marked and their annual height growth was measured each year during the period 1993-1999. No significant differences between single- and double-grip harvester systems were found with respect to their effects on regeneration density, survival or annual height growth. The annual height growth of the individual seedlings after shelterwood removal was significantly correlated with seedling height before shelterwood removal. Significant differences were found in annual height growth between seedlings with high and low vitality. Logging damage did not affect the annual height growth. Several practical conclusions were drawn. First, the choice of harvester system does not affect seedling height growth or survival after shelterwood removal. Secondly, the removal of a 200 m³ shelterwood with 200 stems ha^-1 does not seem to constitute a serious problem for seedling survival and growth. Finally, estimated vitality and seedling height both seem to be fairly good predictors of postrelease survival and growth.     

Development of Pinus sylvestris Main Stems Following Three Different Precommercial Thinning Methods in a Mixed Stand

Reducing competition by point cleaning may be an attractive alternative to conventional precommercial thinning in forestry. In this study, survival and development of main stems of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) following point cleaning were examined in a mixed stand of mainly Scots pine and birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) in northern Sweden. Treatments studied were: no precommercial thinning, conventional precommercial thinning, point cleaning of all secondary stems, and point cleaning of only the secondary stems that were higher than the main stem, within a radius of 0.8 m from the main stem, respectively. A randomised complete block design with three replicates was used. Measurements taken 13 growing seasons after these treatments showed that conventional precommercial thinning was the best treatment for retaining Scots pines as main stems. However, conventional precommercial thinning resulted in the poorest timber quality of the remaining Scots pines in terms of stem taper, thickest branch diameter and relative live crown height. In conclusion, point cleaning has to be followed by a complementary cleaning operation if the objective is to retain Scots pines as main stems in such mixed stands.     

Tree planting for dryland salinity control in Australia

Dryland salinity is emerging as a major form of land and water degradation in southern Australia, particularly in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, and to a lesser extent in New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland.Tree planting, in combination with other vegetation treatments, is regarded as a leading solution to dryland salinity. Research has now shown that planting trees can significantly lower groundwater tables, and thereby reverse the causal process of salinisation. Substantial progress has been made towards answering the basic questions of which species to grow, how to plant, where to plant, at what density and configuration to plant, and how much area to plant. The economic potential for commercial tree planting has given impetus to partial reforestation in higher rainfall (> 600 mm yr^–1) areas. Even so, serious constraints are apparent, relating primarily to cost, uncertainty and attitude. The future should bring increasing community input and control, technical refinement and gradual adoption, provided all aspects of the issue are well researched, relevant information is well communicated and programmes are well administered. Some specific requirements for future research are identified in this review.     

Effect of Cuttings on the Scenic Beauty of a Tree Stand

The opinions of 207 respondents on the visual effects of seven different cutting types were asked using a nine-point verbal scale ranging from ''worsens very much'' to ''improves very much''. Other estimates were obtained by letting the same respondents evaluate photographs of stands which had been treated with different cuttings. The direct questions gave results quite similar to the evaluations of photographs for all but young respondents, indicating that most respondents were able to imagine the effect of the treatment correctly. The results based on the evaluation of photographs indicated that the effect of regenerative cuttings is negative while the impact of thinnings is positive. After a few years of cutting the stand is already regarded as clearly more pleasant than immediately after the cutting. Natural regeneration with seed trees seems to be a way to avoid the very negative immediate impact of clear-felling, especially in the case of Scots pine. Women, young, urban people and those who do not own forest or have work related to forests tended to experience thinnings less positively and saw regenerative cuttings as more harmful than the other test groups did.     

Pinus contorta growth in northern Sweden as affected by soil scarification

The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of different soil scarification methods on tree growth. Soil scarification influenced stem volume and stem biomass yield of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) in a 17-year-old field trial in boreal Sweden. Soil scarification (disc trenching, mounding and ploughing) resulted in an average stem volume yield of 3.1 and 34.2 m³ ha^–1 on the poor and intermediate sites, respectively, while corresponding values for no soil scarification were 0.9 and 16.7 m³ ha^–1. In comparison to no scarification, ploughing increased volume yields by 500% on the poor site and by 200% on the intermediate sites. The ranking according to stem volume yield was ploughing > disc trenching = mounding no soil scarification. Averaged over the two sites, the mean annual increment of stem biomass was 219% and 145% higher (in d.w., 0.26 kg and 0.34 kg per sample tree) after ploughing compared with no soil scarification, for the average and dominant sample trees, respectively. Although not significant, the increased growth rate after soil scarification decreased the average stem basic wood density of the sample trees with 1.6% and 5.3%, at the poor and intermediate sites, respectively. In conclusion, soil scarification significantly increased the 17-year stem volume yield compared with no scarification. The results also indicate that the difference in stem biomass yield between ploughing and the other methods, especially no soil scarification, will increase even more in the near future.