Impacts of freezing and thermal treatments on dimensional and mechanical properties of wood flour-HDPE composite

Wood plastic composite (WPC) of wood flour (WF), high density polyethylene (HDPE), maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (MAPE) and lubricant was prepared by extrusion, and then exposed to different temperatures to evaluate the effects of freezing and thermal treatment on its dimensional and mechanical properties. At elevated temperatures, WPC expanded rapidly initially, and then contracted slowly until reaching an equilibrium state. Treatment at 52°C and relative humidity of 50% for 16 days improved the mechanical properties of WPC: flexure, tensile strength, and izod unnotched impact strength increased by 8%, 10% and 15%, respectively. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests showed that the degree of crystalization of HDPE in WPC declined with increasing treatment temperature.     

Physical and mechanical properties of Pinus leucodermis wood

Abstract

The present work reports on the main physical and mechanical properties of Pinus leucodermis mature wood, one of the least studied coniferous species in south-east Europe. Pinus leucodermis heartwood specimens were found to have average density values of 0.73 g cm^?3 at equilibrium moisture content of 11.5% and average density of 0.64 g cm^?3 under oven-dry conditions. The overall tangential shrinkage was 3.4% and the radial shrinkage was 1.9%. The modulus of rupture was on average 77 N mm^?2, while the static modulus of elasticity averaged 7087 N mm^?2. The hardness of P. leucodermis heartwood using the modified Janka test was 33.4 N mm^?2 in the transverse direction and 48.0 N mm^?2 in the longitudinal direction, while its compression strength parallel to grain was approximately 41.6 N mm^?2.     

A review of wood thermal pretreatments to improve wood composite properties

The objective of this paper is to review the published literature on improving properties of wood composites through thermal pretreatment of wood. Thermal pretreatment has been conducted in moist environments using hot water or steam at temperatures up to 180 and 230 °C, respectively, or in dry environments using inert gases at temperatures up to 240 °C. In these conditions, hemicelluloses are removed, crystallinity index of cellulose is increased, and cellulose degree of polymerization is reduced, while lignin is not considerably affected. Thermally modified wood has been used to manufacture wood–plastic composites, particleboard, oriented strand board, binderless panels, fiberboard, waferboard, and flakeboard. Thermal pretreatment considerably reduced water absorption and thickness swelling of wood composites, which has been attributed mainly to the removal of hemicelluloses. Mechanical properties have been increased or sometimes reduced, depending on the product and the conditions of the pretreatment. Thermal pretreatment has also shown to improve the resistance of composites to decay.     

Physical and mechanical properties of wood after moisture conditioning

Some properties of wood (hinoki:Chamaecyparis obtusa) moisture-conditioned by an adsorption process from a dry state and by two desorption processes (from a water-saturated state and from a state with a moisture content slightly below the fiber saturation point) were investigated. The moisture contents of wood conditioned by the adsorption process and by the desorption process continued to approach to one another for the moisture-conditioning period of over 50 weeks. Accordingly, sorption hysteresis should be regarded as a transitional phenomenon that occurs during the process of approaching the true equilibrium, which requires a long time. The wood conditioned by the desorption process beginning from a water-saturated state showed slightly smaller dimensions than those conditioned by the adsorption process with the same moisture content; however, the wood conditioned by the desorption process from a moisture content below the fiber saturation point showed slightly larger dimensions than those conditioned by the adsorption process. The wood conditioned by the adsorption process from a dry state showed a higher modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture than did the wood conditioned from a water-saturated state with the same moisture content. The mechanical properties of the wood also varied based on the states at which the desorption process was started. This is a notable characteristic of the relation between the drying condition and the mechanical properties of wood.     

Orthotropic hygric and mechanical material properties of oak wood

The present study examines the three-dimensional hygric and mechanical behavior of oak wood. The moisture equilibrium state, characterized by the sorption isotherms, was obtained from measurements taken during adsorption and desorption cycles. Sorption behavior was analyzed with the Dent theory and compared considering the sorption direction (adsorption/desorption cycle). Sorption parameters were provided for possible numerical applications in hygric material models. The corresponding swelling and shrinkage behavior was examined and characterized by the moisture expansion parameters for all anatomical directions. Orthotropic mechanical material behavior was characterized by determining the elastic engineering (Young's moduli, shear moduli, and Poisson's ratios) and the bending, compressive and compressive shear strength material parameters. Influence of moisture content (MC) on the mechanical material properties was studied using Young's moduli, Poisson's ratios, and the investigated strength parameters. A significant difference between the sorption behavior in adsorption and desorption, known as the hysteresis effect, could be proved. Furthermore, swelling and shrinkage behavior did not show any dependency on the adsorption/desorption cycle. The results confirm the significant influence of MC on the Young's moduli and the strength properties, however, did not validate an influence on the Poisson's ratios.     

Ultrastructural features affecting mechanical properties of wood fibres

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to re-examine some of the existing knowledge on the ultrastructure of softwood fibres and modelling of the hygroelastic properties of these fibres. The motivation is that the ultrastructure of wood fibres has a strong influence on fibre properties such as stiffness and hygroexpansion. This structure–property relationship can be modelled with, for instance, composite mechanics to assess the influence of ultrastructure on the fibre properties that in turn control the engineering properties of wood fibre composites and other wood-based materials. Comprehensive information about the ultrastructure is presented that can be useful in modelling the hygroelastic behaviour of wood fibres. Many attempts to model ultrastructure–property relationships that have been carried out over the years are reviewed. Even though models suffer from limiting approximations at some level, they have been useful in revealing valuable insights that can help to clarify experimentally determined behaviour of wood fibres. Still, many modelling approaches in the literature are of limited applicability, not the least when it comes to geometry of the fibre structure. Therefore, an example of finite element modelling of geometrically well-characterized fibres is given. This approach is shown to be useful to asses the influence of the commonly neglected irregular shape on elastic behaviour and stress state in wood fibres. Comparison is also made with an analytical model which assumes cylindrical fibre shape. Predictions of the elastic properties made with analytical modelling of cylindrical fibres and with finite element modelling of geometrically characterized fibres are in concert, but the stress state and failure predictions only show qualitative similarity. It can be concluded that calculations on fibres with the irregular and more realistic geometry combined with experiments on single fibres are necessary for a better and more quantitative understanding of the hygroelastic behaviour and particularly failure of wood fibres. It is hoped that this paper can provide a foundation and an inspiration for modelling, in combination with experiments and microscopy, for better predictions of the mechanical behaviour of wood fibres and wood fibre composites.     

Ultrastructural features affecting mechanical properties of wood fibres

The purpose of this review is to re-examine some of the existing knowledge on the ultrastructure of softwood fibres and modelling of the hygroelastic properties of these fibres. The motivation is that the ultrastructure of wood fibres has a strong influence on fibre properties such as stiffness and hygroexpansion. This structure-property relationship can be modelled with, for instance, composite mechanics to assess the influence of ultrastructure on the fibre properties that in turn control the engineering properties of wood fibre composites and other wood-based materials. Comprehensive information about the ultrastructure is presented that can be useful in modelling the hygroelastic behaviour of wood fibres. Many attempts to model ultrastructure-property relationships that have been carried out over the years are reviewed. Even though models suffer from limiting approximations at some level, they have been useful in revealing valuable insights that can help to clarify experimentally determined behaviour of wood fibres. Still, many modelling approaches in the literature are of limited applicability, not the least when it comes to geometry of the fibre structure. Therefore, an example of finite element modelling of geometrically well-characterized fibres is given. This approach is shown to be useful to asses the influence of the commonly neglected irregular shape on elastic behaviour and stress state in wood fibres. Comparison is also made with an analytical model which assumes cylindrical fibre shape. Predictions of the elastic properties made with analytical modelling of cylindrical fibres and with finite element modelling of geometrically characterized fibres are in concert, but the stress state and failure predictions only show qualitative similarity. It can be concluded that calculations on fibres with the irregular and more realistic geometry combined with experiments on single fibres are necessary for a better and more quantitative understanding of the hygroelastic behaviour and particularly failure of wood fibres. It is hoped that this paper can provide a foundation and an inspiration for modelling, in combination with experiments and microscopy, for better predictions of the mechanical behaviour of wood fibres and wood fibre composites.     

Acetylation of wood in combination with polysiloxanes to improve water-related and mechanical properties of wood

Scots pine sapwood was acetylated with ethyltriacetoxysilane using acetic acid as a solvent and sulfuric acid as a catalyst. A weight percent gain (WPG) of 14 % and cell wall bulking of 7 % were obtained after 5 h of reaction time. Pine specimens were acetylated with acetic anhydride in the presence of 1 % ethyltriacetoxysilane, dihydroxy-functional siloxane, acetoxy-functional siloxane, amino-functional siloxane and non-functional siloxane, respectively. Acetoxy-functional siloxane induced the greatest reduction in water uptake with a water repellent effectiveness after 24 h of up to 62 % as compared to acetylated wood. WPG and cell wall bulking increased compared to solely acetylated wood with increasing concentrations of acetoxy-functional siloxane in acetic anhydride; anti-shrink efficiency, however, did not increase. Fungal resistance of pine sapwood and beech as well as mechanical strength properties did not change when 20 % acetoxy-functional siloxane was added to acetic anhydride compared to solely acetylated specimens.     

Modelling moisture-related mechanical properties of wood Part I: Properties of the wood constituents

Summary By starting with simple concepts of the molecular structure and building up through the various levels of organisation in the wood cell wall it is possible to construct a model that simultaneously predicts the variation with moisture content change of both the longitudinal Young's modulus and longitudinal shrinkage of wood. To do this it is first necessary to define the stiffness and swelling characteristics of the lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose constituents of the wood as moisture content changes. It is suggested here that it is the bound fraction of the sorbed water that is responsible for the changes in swelling stress as well as for change in stiffness in the lignin and hemicellulose. The magnitudes of the stiffness of each of the constituents appear to be quite closely circumscribed by experimental values for longitudinal Young's modulus and shrinkage of wood and it is apparent that the stiffness characteristics of the in situ constituents are compatible with available experimental evidence for extracted lignin and hemicellulose and for native cellulose.     

木纤维PP/PE共混物复合材料的流变和力学性能(英文)

For evaluation of the rheological and mechanical properties of highly filled wood plastic composites （WPCs）, polypropylene/polyethylene （PP/PE） blends were grafted with maleic anhydride （MAH） to enhance the interfacial adhesion between wood fiber and matrix. WPCs were prepared from wood fiber up to 60 wt.% and modified PP/PE was blended by extrusion. The rheological properties were studied by using dynamic measurement. According to the strain sweep test, the linear viscoelastic region of composites in the melt was determined. The result showed that the storage modulus was independent of the strain at low strain region （〈0.1%）. The frequency sweep resuits indicated that all composites exhibited shear thinning behavior, and both the storage modulus and complex viscosity of MAH modified composites were decreased comparing to those unmodified. Flexural properties and impact strength of the prepared WPCs were measured according to the relevant standard specifications. The flexural and impact strength of the manufactured composites significantly increased and reached a maximum when MAH dosage was 1.0 wt%, whereas the flexural modulus after an initial decreased, also increased with MAH dosage. The increase in mechanical properties indicated that the presence of anhydride groups enhanced the interracial adhesion between wood fiber and PP/PE blends.     

13种杨树木材物理力学性质的研究

采集1－69杨等10种黑杨的9年生试材，易县毛白杨等3种白杨的13年生试材，测试木材物理力学性能，分析心边材，不同树高位置，株间的变化规律，比较品种间木材性质的差异，试验结果表明，13种杨树全树木材心材率在14．6－34．1％，之间，生材含水率在86．2－148．5％之间，由生材干燥至含水率为12％所产生的干缩率在8．66％－11．96％这间，气干密度属低类或很低类，强度属弱类，硬度属软类或甚软类，冲击韧性中等；黑杨心材颜色深，心边材性质差异大，白杨心材颜色淡，心边材性质差异小，品种间木材物理力学性质差异较大，按其主要特点可将13个品种的木材分为4类。     

树龄对日本落叶松木材物理力学性质的影响

选取日本落叶松为试验材料,开展不同树龄日本落叶松物理力学性质的比较研究.结果表明:43年生、30年生和17年生日本落叶松木材气干密度分别为0.607,0.567和0.507 g/cm3,气干体积干缩率分别为7.7％,7.7％和7.1％;全干到气干体积湿胀率分别为5.1％,4.9％和4.5％;抗弯弹性模量分别为17.527,16.775和12.510 GPa,抗弯强度分别为121.1,110.3和90.9 MPa,顺纹抗压强度分别为56.8,51.8和44.0 MPa.随着树龄增大,日本落叶松木材密度、顺纹抗压强度、抗弯强度和抗弯弹性模量等各项物理力学性能指标提高,差异干缩逐渐变小.日本落叶松木材的气干密度与抗弯弹性模量、抗弯强度、顺纹抗压强度呈线性正相关,相关系数分别为0.760,0.816和0.900.     

人工林日本落叶松木材物理力学性质的研究

通过试验和统计分析的方法，研究了人工林日本落叶松木材的物理力学性质及其与密度与主要力学强度的相互关系。结果表明；人工林日本落叶松硬度和主要力学强度适中，与长白落叶松和兴安落叶松相比，日本落叶松结构相对均匀，弦径干缩差异性小，可满足各种木制品的生产要求。     

Physical and mechanical wood properties of 14 timber species from Northeast Mexico

Background  

Thornscrubs are a vegetation type from Northeast Mexico, consisting of 60 to 80 tree and shrub species that are used for a wide range of constructive, decorative and energy purposes. However, basic research of the physical and mechanical wood properties are still needed to establish additional uses and, thereby, increase their value in the timber industry.     

Modelling moisture-related mechanical properties of wood Part II: Computation of properties of a model of wood and comparison with experimental data

Starting with simple concepts of the molecular structure and models of the stiffness and swelling behaviour of lignin, hemi-cellulose and cellulose and building up through the various levels of organisation in the wood cell wall a model has been constructed that simultaneously predicts the variation with moisture content change of both the longitudinal Young's modulus and longitudinal shrinkage of wood. The model closely predicts both longitudinal shrinkage and Young's modulus as they vary with the moisture content of the wood. The model also takes into account structural variations in the form of changes in cell wall layer thicknesses and mean cellulose microfibril orientation.     

Impact of moisture content on dynamic mechanical properties and transition temperatures of wood

The dynamic shear modulus and the loss modulus of Betula alba, Ulmus parvifolia, Quercus robur, Acer platanoides, Tilia cordata, Fraxinus excelsior and Pinus sylvestris wood were measured using an inverted torsion pendulum within a wide temperature range. The glass transition temperature of the lignin–carbohydrate complex and the decomposition temperature of the wood cellulose were estimated. The temperature band from 170°C to 240°С shows the transition of the lignin–cellulose complex from the glassy to the rubbery state. Mechanical properties of different types of wood are affected by moisture and anatomical differences, but glass transition and decomposition temperatures are the same. More than 5% of moisture in the wood stored at normal conditions were found. After drying, the increase of dynamic shear modulus of wood over the entire region of the glassy state was observed. The intensity of maximum peak of dynamic loss modulus is also increased due to activation of the segmental motion of macromolecules of the ligno-carbon complex. The decomposition temperature of the cellulose crystallites was unchanged for specimens containing moisture and for dried specimens.     

STUDIES ON PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DAHURIAN LARCH-WOOD OF TWO WOOD COLOURS

Dahurian1arch[Larixgmelini(Rupr.)Rupr.jisamaintimbertreespe-ciesinDaxing'anLingForestRegion,and'itisalsoafast-growingandregenerationtreeinNorthChina-Becauseitsecologicalamplitudeisverywild,therearemanyva-riabletypesinvarioushabitats.Themostsignificativetypes,whichhavebeenfoundrecentlyininvestigation,aretheredwoodandwhitewood.Theformerisfromyellow-browntored-brown,andthelat-tCrisfrompaleyellowtowhite.Theyaresimilarto'Redscotchpine#and'Whitescotchpine#.Theparametersofwoodcol-ourandphysico-…