Gluability of thermally modified beech (Fagus silvatica L.) and birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) wood

Abstract

One of the main disadvantages of wood is hygroscopicity resulting from its polar character. The sorption–desorption of water causes unwanted swelling and shrinkage in wood. Thermal modification substantially reduces this inconvenient feature. Unfortunately, the same chemical changes that reduce water sorption alter the polar character of the material and result in poorer wetting of thermally treated wood by waterborne adhesives. Gluability of thermally modified beech (Fagus silvatica L.) and birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) wood with two commercial amino resins, melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) and melamine–formaldehyde (MF), and a two-component polyurethane (PUR) adhesive was investigated. Both wood species were modified according to two temperature regimes: 160°C and 190°C. Shear strengths of the joints were then determined according to EN 205:2003 standard. The results showed that thermally modified beech and birch wood can be effectively glued not only with commercially available PUR adhesives, but also with aqueous MF and MUF resins. The resultant shear strengths of the joints were limited by the strength of the thermally modified substrate.     

Detection of the effective refractive index of thermally modified Scots pine by immersion liquid method

The purpose of this study was to determine the effective refractive index of thermally modified Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood specimens as a quantitative measure regarding the change of wood density which is due to the thermal modification. The refractive index of thermally modified Scots pine wood was obtained by introducing pine wood powder into an immersion liquid and measuring light backscattering with a homebuilt multifunction spectrophotometer. The present method provides useful information that in principle can be applied, for example, in the optimization of the thermal modification process and inspection of the quality of thermally modified wood.     

不同胶黏剂对南方松CLT胶合性能的影响

为探索不同胶黏剂用于正交胶合木(CLT)生产的可能性,研究采用来自不同厂家的5种胶黏剂制备南方松CLT,以浸渍剥离率、剪切强度和木破率评价南方松CLT的胶合性能。结果表明:仅A-API和B-PUR1胶黏剂制造的南方松CLT胶层耐久性达到标准要求,木破率均未达到标准要求;5种胶黏剂对南方松CLT的浸渍剥离率、剪切强度和木破率有显著影响(P<0.005);从胶层耐久性、剪切性能和生产成本考虑,宜用A-PUR和A-API制造南方松CLT。     

A feasibility study of using two-component polyurethane adhesive in constructing wooden structures

This investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of using a two-component polyurethane （PUR） adhesive, with special waterproof properties, in constructing wooden structures. We designed and conducted tests to compare the shear strength and adhesion performance of PUR with polyvinyl acetate （PVAc） adhesive on block-shear specimens constructed of oriental beech （Fagus orientalis L.）, fir （Abies alba Mill.）, poplar （Populus deltoides Bartr.）, white oak （Quercus alba L.）, sycamore （Platanus orientalis L.） and white walnut （Juglans cinerea L.）. The values of the percentage of wood failure were also determined in specimens constructed with each adhesive. The highest shear strength values of both adhesives were obtained in specimens constructed of beech, while the lowest shear strength values were obtained in fir and poplar specimens. Average shear strength of the PUR adhesive was 16.5% higher than that of the PVAc adhesive. Specimens constructed of fir, poplar and sycamore were characterised by the highest percentages of wood failure, whereas the lowest average percentages of wood failure were obtained in beech and oak specimens. With the exception of oak specimens, there was no statistically significant difference between percentage of wood failure among the PUR and PVAc adhesives. Generally, the PUR adhesive showed an acceptable adhesion performance on wood materials used in our study.     

Effect of knife wear on finger-joint strength of silver fir (Abies alba) wood

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of knife wear, as measured in hours of use, on the finger-joint strength of silver fir wood (Abies alba), bonded with polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) adhesives. Wood samples were collected after 1, 32 and 64 h of knife wear. Results showed that as knife wear increased, bending strength or modulus of rupture (MOR) of the finger-jointed samples was reduced by 11.1% (PVAc) to 21.2% (PU) after 32 h of knife wear, and by 19.6% (PVAc) to 27.6% (PU) after 64 h of knife wear, whereas modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the finger-jointed samples was reduced by 10.5% (PVAc) to 12.5% (PU) after 32 h of knife wear, and by 11.7% (PVAc) to 10.0% (PU) after 64 h of knife wear. Tension strength of the finger-jointed samples was reduced by 2.1% (PVAc) to 1.5% (PU) after 32 h of knife wear, and by 5.4% (PVAc) to 16.0% (PU) after 64 h of knife wear.     

ACQ防腐处理对马尾松木材胶合强度的影响研究

采用铜氨(胺)季铵盐(ACQ-D)防腐剂处理马尾松木材,以水性高分子异氰酸酯(API)、聚氨酯(PUR)和间苯二酚-苯酚-甲醛树脂(RPF)为胶黏剂制备防腐材胶合试样,研究胶黏剂种类和防腐剂处理浓度对马尾松胶合强度的影响。结果表明:API、PUR、RPF适用于ACQ处理马尾松的胶合,平均剪切强度和木破率均达到GB/T 26899—2011《结构用集成材》要求。胶黏剂种类对防腐材胶合强度有显著影响,表现为PUR和RPF的剪切强度优于API。与未处理材相比,ACQ处理对API胶合有负面影响,对PUR胶合有增强效应,对RPF胶合没有显著影响。在ACQ浓度为0.1%～1.0%范围内,胶合强度没有显著变化。     

Carbon footprint including effect of carbon storage for selected wooden facade materials

Abstract

The outer facade constitutes a substantial volume of the total consumption of materials used in a building and the need for maintenance of the facade makes it especially interesting from a life cycle perspective. The range of wooden materials and products used for facades has different impacts over the life cycle, but the analyses so far have not included a time-adjusted global warming potential (GWP). Wooden facade materials were assessed with respect to their life cycle carbon footprint based on the environmental product declarations (EPD) and adjusted according to EN15804. The results showed low impacts of untreated Scots pine heartwood (≈1 kg CO₂-eq. per square meter [m²]), medium for thermally modified Scots pine, coated Norway spruce and oil/copper–organic preservative-treated Scots pine (1–5 kg CO₂-eq. per m²) and high for furfurylated Scots pine and acetylated Radiata pine (5–10 kg CO₂-eq. per m²). The results with time-adjustment showed that these methods have a potential large effect on the carbon footprint of wooden claddings. The inclusion of biogenic carbon flows and timing seems to be more important than the difference between the product when biogenic carbon is not included. This fact highlights the importance time-adjusted GWP would have for wood products EPDs.     

高温热处理木材胶合性能的研究

笔者研究了桦木、落叶松和樟子松高温热处理材的胶合性能,并与常规干燥材进行了对比。测试结果表明木材的胶合剪切强度与所用的胶黏剂有关,聚氨酯胶合的三个树种木材的剪切强度普遍大于白乳胶胶合的木材。无论是室内用的白乳胶或室外木结构用的聚氨酯胶都能与三个树种的高温热处理材很好地胶合,胶合试件的浸渍剥离率或煮沸剥离率皆为零。木材经高温热处理后,其剪切强度均有不同程度的降低,阔叶材桦木下降幅度最大,针叶材落叶松下降幅度最小。     

Durability of thermally modified Norway spruce and Scots pine in above-ground conditions

Abstract

One of the main objectives of thermal modification is to increase the biological durability of wood. In this study the fungal resistance of Norway spruce and Scots pine, thermally modified at 195°C and 210°C, was studied with a lap-joint field test. Untreated pine and spruce and pine impregnated with tributyl tin oxide (TBTO) and copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA) were selected as reference materials. The evaluations were carried out after 1, 2 and 9 years of exposure. After 1 and 2 years of exposure mainly discoloration was detected. Only the untreated pine was slightly affected by decay fungi. There were significant differences in the decay ratings of untreated and thermally modified wood materials after 9 years in the field. While the untreated wood materials were severely attacked by decay fungi or reached failure rating, only small areas of incipient decay were detected in the thermally modified samples. Thermally modified pine was slightly more decayed than thermally modified spruce. The only wood material without any signs of decay was CCA-treated pine, since some of the TBTO-treated pine samples were also moderately attacked by fungal decay. The results of the lap-joint test had a good correlation with mass losses in a laboratory test with brown-rot fungi.     

Durability of thermally modified sapwood and heartwood of Scots pine and Norway spruce in the modified double layer test

In the present study, durability of untreated and thermally modified sapwood and heartwood of Scots pine and Norway spruce was examined using a modified double layer test. Base layer samples were partly on contact with ground where exposure conditions were harder than that in a double layer test above the ground. The base layer on ground contact gave results already after one year of exposure in Finnish climate, but the top layer of a double layer test element simulated more the situation of decking exposure.

Significant differences in durability and moisture content (MC) between the wood materials were detected after six years of exposure in the field. Thermally modified pine heartwood performed very well in all layers of the test element and only minor signs of decay were found in some of the base samples. Both sapwood and heartwood of thermally modified spruce were suffering only slight amounts of decay while thermally modified pine sapwood was slightly or moderately decayed. Untreated sapwood samples of pine and spruce were severely decayed or reached failure rating after six years in the field. Untreated heartwood samples performed clearly better. The highest MCs were measured from untreated and thermally modified pine samples. Thermal modification increased significantly the durability and decreased the MC values of all wood materials.     

Modification of three hardwoods with an N-methylol melamine compound and a metal-complex dye

This study evaluated the combined modification and staining of ash, beech and maple wood with a low molecular weight N-methylol melamine compound (NMM) and a metal-complex dye. Wood samples were treated with aqueous solutions of 10, 20 and 30 wt% NMM and 5 wt% of the dye. The treatment caused the fixation of the water-soluble dye by the NMM resin. Vacuum pressure impregnation of unsealed wood blocks did not result in different solution uptake and weight percent gain after curing among the three species, but sealing of the surfaces of the wood blocks to allow penetration only into one direction revealed easiest penetrability of beech followed by maple and ash. UV micro-spectrophotometry and light microscopy indicated that NMM was partly deposited in the cell wall and partly in the lumens. Penetration of the metal-complex dye was shown by means of X-ray micro-analysis (SEM–EDX). The study shows that a combined resin modification and staining of the three wood species tested is possible and that NMM causes fixation of the water-soluble dye.     

Termite resistance of DMDHEU-treated wood

Four field trials were conducted with wood modified with dimethyloldihydroxy-ethyleneurea (DMDHEU) in contact with subterranean termites. Trials 1 to 3 were conducted with Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt); 1 and 2 in south-east Queensland, and 3 in northern Queensland, Australia. Trial 4 was conducted in northern Queensland with Mastotermes darwiniensis (Froggatt). Four timber species (Scots pine, beech, Slash pine and Spotted gum) and two levels (1.3 M and 2.3 M) of DMDHEU were used. The tests were validated. DMDHEU successfully prevented damage by C. acinaciformis in south-east Queensland, but not in northern Queensland. It also did not protect the wood against M. darwiniensis. Except for beech in trial 4, DMDHEU led to reduced mass losses caused by termite attack compared to the unmodified feeder stakes. Slash pine (in trials 1 and 3) and Spotted gum (in trial 1) presented low mass losses. Modification of Scots pine was more effective against termite damage than the modification of beech.     

Adhesive penetration in beech wood: experiments

A study with synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) of PUR, PVAc, and UF adhesive bond lines in beech wood, bonded under various growth ring angles, is presented. The bond line morphologies and the adhesive penetration into the wood structure were evaluated after determining the hardening characteristics of the adhesives. Distinct bond line imperfections were found for the different adhesive systems. To describe the adhesive distribution inside the bond line, the saturation of the pore space instead of the commonly used maximum penetration depth seems to be adequate.     

Adhesive performance of woods treated with alternative preservatives

The extended use of woods treated with traditional or alternative preservatives for exterior applications requires an assessment of wood adhesive performance. This study attempts to evaluate the performance of wood adhesives for woods treated with various waterborne preservatives. Two softwood species, i.e. Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) and Japanese Larch (Larix leptolepis [Sieb. et Zucc.] Gordon) were treated with copper–chrome–arsenic (CCA), CB-HDO, or copper azole (CY), and then bonded with four different wood adhesives such as urea–melamine–formaldehyde (UMF) resin, melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resin, phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin, and resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) resin. The performance of these adhesives was evaluated by measuring the dry shear strength of adhesive-bonded wood block on compression. Both UMF and MF resins produced a relatively strong adhesive strength for CY-treated pine and larch woods. The PF resin also produced good bond strength when bonded with either larch wood treated with CY or pinewood treated with CB-HDO. The best result was obtained when the CB-HDO-treated woods were bonded with RF resin. For a better bond strength development, a proper combination of adhesive, preservative, and wood species should be selected by taking into consideration of the characteristics of these three parameters as well as their interactions.     

Effect of fungal exposure on the strength of thermally modified Norway spruce and Scots pine

Abstract

Thermal modification at elevated temperatures changes the chemical, biological and physical properties of wood. In this study, the effects of the level of thermal modification and the decay exposure (natural durability against soft-rot microfungi) on the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of the sapwood and heartwood of Scots pine and Norway spruce were investigated with a static bending test using a central loading method in accordance with EN 408 (1995). The results were compared with four reference wood species: Siberian larch, bangkirai, merbau and western red cedar. In general, both the thermal modification and the decay exposure decreased the strength properties. On average, the higher the thermal modification temperature, the more MOE and MOR decreased with unexposed samples and increased with decayed samples, compared with the unmodified reference samples. The strength of bangkirai was least reduced in the group of the reference wood species. On average, untreated wood material will be stronger than thermally modified wood material until wood is exposed to decaying fungi. Thermal modification at high temperatures over 210°C very effectively prevents wood from decay; however, strength properties are then affected by thermal modification itself.     

两种常温固化木材胶粘剂胶接强度分析

对两种木材用常温固化胶粘剂--单宁-甲醛胶粘剂和聚氨酯胶粘剂胶接的速生杨木的静态剪切强度进行了测试与分析.研究结果表明,以速生杨I-72为被胶接对象,自制的双组分型单宁胶压缩剪切强度范围为8.08～8.92MPa,但木破率较低,要满足日本集成材JAS标准中用胶规定,需进一步研究改进.相比较而言,聚氨酯胶粘剂的胶接强度较高,其压缩剪切强度值均在9.8MPa以上,木破率在75%以上,能够满足日本集成材JAS标准中用胶的规定.     

Effects of surface modification methods on mechanical and interfacial properties of high-density polyethylene-bonded wood veneer composites

To improve interfacial adhesion between wood veneer and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) film, wood veneer was thermally modified in an oven or chemically modified by vinyltrimethoxysilane. The wood veneers were used to prepare plastic-bonded wood composites (PBWC) in a flat-press process using HDPE films as adhesives. The results showed that both modifications reduced veneer hydrophilicity and led to enhancement in shear strength, wood failure, and water resistance of the resulting PBWC. The thermal treatment significantly decreased the storage modulus close to 130 °C (the melting temperature of plastic). Thermal-treated wood veneer maintains mechanical interlocking for bonding and veneer strength which then declined under thermal treatment due to hemicellulose degradation and cellulose de-polymerization. In the silane-treated PBWC, enhanced interlocking and a stronger bonding structure resulted from the reaction between the silane-treated veneer and HDPE. This strong bonding structure allowed thermal stability improvement demonstrated by high modulus and low tanδ values. However, the strength of silane-treated PBWC was still much lower than thermosetting resin-bonded composites at higher temperatures due to the melting behavior of thermoplastic polymer, precluding its use in certain applications.     

Strength performance of mortise and loose-tenon furniture joints under uniaxial bending moment

We determined the effects of adhesive type and loose tenon dimensions （length and thickness） on bending strength of T-shaped mor- tise and loose-tenon joints. Polyvinyl acetate （PVAc） and two-component polyurethane （PU） adhesives were used to construct joint specimens. The bending moment capacity of joints increased significantly with increased length and thickness of the loose tenon. Bending moment capacity of joints constructed with PU adhesive was approximately 13% higher than for joints constructed with PVAc adhesive. We developed a predictive equation as a function of adhesive type and loose tenon dimensions to estimate the strength of the joints constructed of oriental beech （Fagus orientalis L.） under uniaxial bending load.     

Wood defects during industrial-scale production of thermally modified Norway spruce and Scots pine

This research investigates wood defects, particularly the formation of surface cracks, during the production of thermally modified wood and its exposure to cyclic moisture changes. Boards of Norway spruce and Scots pine originating from different steps within the production of ThermoWood® were collected and wood defects were investigated at macroscopic and microscopic scale. Subsequently, the wood was exposed to capillary wetting cycles to record its sensitivity towards cracking. After the modification process, typical anatomical defects of conventional kiln-drying became more frequent and severe, with the magnitude being to some extent depending on the presence of defects in the raw material. At microscopic scale, damages to ray parenchyma and epithelial cells as well as longitudinal cracks within the cell walls of earlywood tracheids were evident in thermally modified wood. Despite a lower water uptake and higher dimensional stability, thermally modified wood was more sensitive to surface cracking during wetting cycles than unmodified wood, i.e. at the outside face of outer boards (near bark). For limiting surface cracking of thermally modified wood during service life, the use of high-quality raw material, the exposure of the inside face of the boards (near pith) and the application of a surface coating are considered beneficial.     

Impregnation of Scots pine and beech with tannin solutions: effect of viscosity and wood anatomy in wood infiltration

The impregnation process of Scots pine and beech samples with tannin solutions was investigated. The two materials involved in the process (impregnation solution and wood samples) are studied in depth. Viscosity of mimosa tannin solutions and the anatomical aspect of beech and Scots pine were analysed and correlated. The viscosity of tannin solutions presents a non-newtonian behaviour when its pH level increases, and in the case of addition of hexamine as a hardener, the crosslinking of the flavonoids turns out to be of great importance. During the impregnation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), the liquid and solid uptakes were monitored while taking into consideration the different conditions of the impregnation process. This method allowed to identify the best conditions needed in order to get a successful preservative uptake for each wooden substrate. The penetration mechanism within the wood of both species was revealed with the aid of a microscopic analysis. Scots pine is impregnated through the tracheids in the longitudinal direction and through parenchyma rays in the radial direction, whereas in beech, the penetration occurs almost completely through longitudinal vessels.