Strength properties of black spruce wood under different treatment

Summary The effect of various forms of treatment — chemical, thermal and pressure — on the tensile properties of wood was investigated. Spruce was impregnated in water, sodium sulfite and/or sodium bicarbonate, and heated at temperatures ranging from 20 to 190 °C. At the end of cooking (190 °C), decompression was applied both slowly and suddenly.A rise in temperature, an increase in heating time, from 4 to 10 min. at 190 °C, as well as fast pressure release influenced the tensile strength. The chemical treatment resulted in lignin sulfonation while carboxylation produced fiber swelling and, consequently, tensile strength decreased.The authors wish to thank the FCAR (Québec), NSERC (Canada) and Stake Tech. Co. for their financial support     

Intra-annual variations in climate influence growth and wood density of Norway spruce

Intra-annual radial growth variations of two Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were monitored over 4 years, at four heights up the stem, by means of point-dendrometers. The trees were then felled and radial wood samples were cut from the radii that had been monitored by the dendrometers and analyzed for density. From the radial growth measurements recorded by the dendrometers, we related positions within the rings to dates, thus making possible investigation of the relationships between changes within the rings in wood density and fluctuations in climate or growth rate. Radial growth started in early April and ended, with large intra-annual differences, in August or September. Short-term variations in growth rate were related to fluctuations in climate parameters and soil water reserves. The sensitivity of radial growth to climate decreased with stem height. Wood density responded strongly to drought events, and a dry period in June 1996 induced false-ring formation. Wood density was relatively independent of growth rate and climatic conditions during the first part of the growing season, but increased with decreasing radial growth rate later in the growing season.     

Three mechanisms affecting the mechanical properties of spruce wood dried at high temperatures

Wood drying experiments are conducted in which the temperature and the drying rate are controlled independently. In relationship to drying processes, at least three mechanisms are believed to contribute to the properties of dried wood. However, only two of these are found to affect the properties of macroscopic specimens, the third mechanism being observable in microtomed earlywood sections, and possibly in specimens loaded in the radial direction. Degradation of structural components and irreversible hydrogen bonding (hornification) are found to contribute to both the hygroscopicity and the mechanical properties of macroscopic wood specimens. Mass loss from thermal degradation occurs predominantly in slow high-temperature drying processes. Irreversible hydrogen bonding takes place in high-temperature drying, in particular with high ultimate dryness. Regarding the effect on strength and stiffness, mass loss and hornification appear to compete. The third identified mechanism, microscopic cell wall damage caused by incompatible drying shrinkage of cell wall elements, does not seem to affect the mechanical properties of macroscopic wood specimens. Consequently, slow high-temperature drying processes do not provide much benefit regarding the mechanical behavior of dried wood. The reasons for this are discussed.     

Aging law of spruce wood

Abstract

Accelerated aging of spruce wood samples have been carried out by thermo-hydro (TH) treatments. These treatments were applied to accelerate the chemical reactions that take place during the natural aging of wood. In order to avoid dissimilar chemical reactions between the TH treatments and the natural aging, mild temperatures (between 100 and 150°C) have been selected at low relative humidity (RH). The mechanical properties of non-aged, natural aged and accelerated aged spruce wood have been compared. It is apparent that longitudinal Young's modulus of accelerated aged wood increase slightly at the beginning of the treatment and is followed by a reduction. Along the radial direction, Young's modulus remains almost unchanged. On the other hand the radial strength is severely reduced. From these results, the relative radial strength has been fitted on the chemical kinetic law. The rate constant of this law has been calculated and the treatment temperature and wood moisture content have been integrated. Finally this law has been extrapolated to standard climatic conditions in order to predict the loss of strength of old wood by knowing its age and its mean climate history of temperature and RH (ambiance condition).     

Effects of thinning and fertilization on wood properties and economic returns for Norway spruce

The effects of silviculture on wood and tracheid properties, and economic returns of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were investigated in two case studies, one comparing different thinning intensity in southeastern Finland and the other considering the effects of optimal nutrient addition in northern Sweden. Models for predicting the wood and tracheid properties of Norway spruce were integrated into a distance-independent process-based growth and yield model. Increasing the thinning intensity resulted in a lower mean wood density, tracheid length, and latewood proportion in harvested wood. Wood density and tracheid length of harvested pulpwood slightly decreased in later thinnings and final cuts. Thinning regimes with high early growing stock and decreasing later growing stock were most profitable. Nutrient addition accelerated volume growth and increased the value growth. The increase in volume growth due to nutrient addition more than offset the economic influence of the loss in wood density and tracheid length.     

Hydraulic and anatomical properties of light bands in Norway spruce compression wood

Compression wood (CW), which is formed on the underside of conifer branches, exhibits a lower specific hydraulic conductivity (k(s)) compared with normal wood. However, the first-formed tracheids of an annual ring on the underside of a conifer branch often share several properties with normal tracheids, e.g., thin cell walls and angular cross sections. These first-formed tracheids appear bright when observed by the naked eye and are therefore called light bands (LB). In this study, hydraulic and related anatomical properties of LBs were characterized and compared with typical CW and opposite wood (OW). Measurements were made on branches of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Specific hydraulic conductivity was measured with fine cannulas connected to microlitre syringes. Micro- and ultrastructural analysis were performed on transverse and radial longitudinal sections by light and scanning electron microscopy. Xylem areas containing both typical CW and LBs had a k(s) 51.5% that of OW (7.95 +/- 0.97 m(2) s(-1) MPa(-1) x 10(-4)), whereas k(s) of pure CW was only 26.7% that of OW. The k(s) of LBs (6.38 +/- 0.97 m(2) s(-1) MPa(-1) x 10(-4); 80.3% of OW) was estimated from these k(s) values because the cannulas were too wide to measure the k(s) of LBs directly. Mean lumen area of first-formed tracheids on the underside of branches was 65.7% that of first-formed tracheids in OW and about three times that of CW. Light-band tracheids exhibited a bordered pit frequency of 42.7 +/- 1.3 pits mm(-1), which was three times that in CW and 1.6 times that in OW. Bordered pit apertures in LB tracheids (9.15 +/- 0.60 microm(2)) were 1.7 times wider than those in CW and similar in aperture to those in OW. The high k(s) of LBs was correlated with their wide tracheid lumina, high pit frequency and wide pit apertures. We therefore suggest that LBs have a primarily hydraulic function within the mechanically optimized CW region. This might be important for supplying water to living tissues on the underside of branches, as well as to other distal areas along water transport pathways following the spiral grain of wood.     

Steaming effects on selected wood properties of Turkey oak by spectral analysis

Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) is characterized by some technological and aesthetical factors limiting its market value from its great potential. In this study, the effect of direct and indirect steaming on reduction in equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and colour variations was evaluated using a hyperspectral radiometer. Steaming treatments were carried out at 80°C for 48?h, and 120°C for 18 and 24?h, showing a reduction in EMC in the order of 8.1, 28.5 and 13.5, respectively, as well as very significant lightness (L^*) and hue (h°) modifications in comparison with untreated specimens. The spectral signature analysis confirmed that hydrothermal treatments modify wood sensibility to the light source in the entire spectrum range. The study supports the validity of hydrothermal treatments for improving technological and aesthetical properties of Turkey oak.     

Variability of selected wood characteristics in 40 half-sib families of black spruce (Picea mariana)

Summary Based on 15-year-old black spruce (Picea mariana) trees from 40 half-sib families sampled from 9 blocks of a family test in New Brunswick, this study examined intertree and intratree variation in various wood density and ring width characteristics. Of various variance components of the intertree variation, a remarkable variance component due to family was found in wood density characteristics (viz. average wood density, average earlywood density and latewood density of the tree), and these characteristics are thus under strong genetic control (h _i ² ranging from 0.60 to 0.86, and h _f ² from 0.56 to 0.68). It, to a lesser extent, applies to ring width characteristics at the tree level (viz. average ring width, and average earlywood width, latewood width and latewood percent of the tree) that show a lower heritability (h? from 0.18 to 0.28, and h _f ² from 0.22 to 0.36). Both block and block × family interaction contribute little to the total intertree variation encountered in 40 families from 9 blocks, while tree-to-tree variation within the family accounts for most (over 3/4) of the total intertree variation.Compared to the intertree variation (tree-to-tree variation within the family), the intratree variation in various wood characteristics studied is considerably larger in this species. It appears that most intraring wood density characteristics show a relatively smaller intertree variation but a relatively larger intratree variation as compared to ring width characteristics (except latewood width and latewood percent). Latewood width and latewood percent show the smallest intertree variation and the largest intratree variation. Between the two sources of the radial intratree variation, cambial age explains much more variation in most intraring wood density characteristics, while ring width accounts for more variation in earlywood width, latewood width and intraring density variation. This indicates that wood density of growth rings in this species is dependent more on cambial age than ring width (growth rate). Among various wood density and ring width characteristics studies, maximum (latewood) density shows the strongest response to calendar year. This characteristics is thus a useful dendroclimatic parameter in this species.I would like to thank Dr. E.K. Morgenstern and Mr. D. Simpson for their involvement in the planning of this study. Thanks are also due to G. Chauret, T. Keenam, R. Ploure, V. Steel and C. Reitlingshoefer for their technical assistance     

Studies on milled wood lignins from spruce part 1. Composition and molecular properties

Summary Isolation of six milled wood lignins (MWL) from spruce under different conditions resulted in variable yields between 2.2% and 11.8% related to wood lignin. The composition of crude and purified lignins was evaluated with regard to non-hydrolyzable residue, acid-soluble lignin and polysaccharide content, which varied from 0.9 to 2.5%, depending on isolation conditions. The polysaccharide moiety of the crude and purified lignins contained a high percentage of glucose, probably derived from cellulose. The molecular size distributions determined by gel chromatography on different gels showed a broad distribution for all isolated lignins. A probable maximum of 40,000 for the molecular weight of milled wood lignins was determined by ultracentrifugation. Some of the lignin fractions were examined in the electron microscope.The authors are indepted to Prof. E. Killmann and Mrs. M. Bäumle (Institute for Technical Chemistry, Technical University of Munich) for assistance with the ultracentrifuge measurements and Dr. M. Stoll for precious suggestions and discussions. Submitted by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).     

The influence of heartwood on the pulping properties of Acacia melanoxylon wood

The pulping wood quality of Acacia melanoxylon was evaluated in relation to the presence of heartwood. The sapwood and heartwood from 20 trees from four sites in Portugal were evaluated separately at 5% stem height level in terms of chemical composition and kraft pulping aptitude. Heartwood had more extractives than sapwood ranging from 7.4% to 9.5% and from 4.0% to 4.2%, respectively, and with a heartwood-to-sapwood ratio for extractives ranging from 1.9 to 2.3. The major component of heartwood extractives was made up of ethanol-soluble compounds (70% of total extractives). Lignin content was similar in sapwood and heartwood (21.5% and 20.7%, respectively) as well as the sugar composition. Site did not influence the chemical composition. Pulping heartwood differed from sapwood in chemical and optical terms: lower values of pulp yield (53% vs 56% respectively), higher kappa number (11 vs. 7), and lower brightness (28% vs 49%). Acacia melanoxylon wood showed an overall good pulping aptitude, but the presence of heartwood should be taken into account because it decreases the raw-material quality for pulping. Heartwood content should therefore be considered as a quality variable when using A. melanoxylon wood in pulp industries     

Effect of age on the variation, correlations and inheritance of selected wood characteristics in black spruce (Picea mariana)

Summary The variation, correlations and inheritance of various intraring wood characteristics in 15-year-old black spruce (Picea mariana) trees from 40 half-sib families grown in New Brunswick were examined. The emphasis was placed on the effect of age on these genetic parameters. With increasing (cambial) age, ring width and ring density tend to exhibit a constant tree-to-tree variation whereas most other characteristics exhibit a smaller tree-to-tree variation. The heritability for latewood characteristics does not seem to change appreciably. Other characteristics (except RDmi), however, tend to be less heritable when the tree grows older. Correlations between ring density and most intraring characteristics tend to be weaker with increasing age. This implies that fast-growth in this species will have less negative effect on wood density when the tree grows older.The author wishes to thank Dr. E.K. Morgenstern of the Genetic Resource Consultants, Permbroke, Ontario and Mr. D. Simpson of the Canadian Forest Service in Fredericton, New Brunswick for their involvement in the initial planning of this project. Thanks are also due to G. Chauret, T. Keenam, R. Ploure, V. Steel and C. Reitlingshoefer for their technical assistance.     

Radial mechanical properties of high-temperature dried Norway spruce (Picea abies) wood

Abstract

Wood drying experiments were conducted in which the temperature and the drying rate were controlled independently. The mechanical properties of dried wood in radial loading were analysed in relation to drying parameters. Mass loss, due to thermal degradation of the wood structural components, occurred predominantly in slow high-temperature drying processes. Despite the higher mass loss, slowly dried wood showed similar radial strength and stiffness to rapidly dried wood. The formation of irreversible hydrogen bonds (hornification) within the wood structure may compete with the effects of mass loss on the radial mechanical behaviour of wood. However, both the mass loss and the hornification resulted in wood specimens with lower hygroscopicity. Application of slow high-temperature drying to reduce microscopic cell-wall damage, caused by anisotropic shrinkage of cell-wall layers, did not seem to affect the radial mechanical properties of wood. The effects of stress relaxation within the wood cell wall on the mechanical behaviour of wood may be offset by the degradation of structural components along with drying. Radial mechanical properties may be improved by rapid high-temperature drying up to high final dryness.     

Identification of selected internal wood characteristics in computed tomography images of black spruce: a comparison study

The feasibility of identifying internal wood characteristics in computed tomography (CT) images of black spruce was investigated using two promising classifiers: the maximum likelihood classifier (MLC) and the back propagation (BP) artificial neural network (ANN) classifier. Nine image features including one spectral feature (gray level values), a distance feature, and seven textural features were employed to develop the classifiers. The selected internal wood characteristics to be identified included heartwood, sapwood, bark, and knots. Twenty cross-sectional CT images of a black spruce log were randomly selected to develop the two classifiers. The results suggest that both classifiers produced high classification accuracy. Compared with the MLC classifier (80.9% overall accuracy), the BP ANN classifier had better classification performance (97.6% overall accuracy). Moreover, statistical analysis reveals that the heartwood of the black spruce log used in this study is the easiest to identify by either classifier compared with the other three log features. The results also suggest that the separability of one wood characteristic from the other wood characteristics in black spruce CT images is mainly related to moisture content.     

An investigation on the transition characteristics of the wood cell walls during carbonization

The structural changes of the cell wall and crystalline cellulose of Quercus variabilis wood in a pyrolysis system at several temperatures ranging from 250 to 500°C were investigated to examine the wood carbonization characteristics. The volume of the wood sample was decreased and the weight loss was increased by increasing the carbonization temperature. Vessels collapsed severely in tangential direction during the charring process above 350°C. SEM observation indicated that the layering structure of the walls in wood fibers and parenchyma cells were retained below 300°C. However, the cell walls above 350°C changed to an amorphous-like structure without cell wall layering. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the cellulose crystalline substance was still remained at the carbonization temperature of 300°C but was not detected above 350°C. It can be concluded that the transition from Q. variabilis wood to charcoal might occur at approximately 350°C.     

Effect of growth rate on wood specific gravity and selected mechanical properties in individual species from distinct wood categories

Summary This study examined the relationships of wood specific gravity and selected mechanical properties (MOR, MOE and Cmax) with growth rate in 16 timber species from four distinct wood categories: 1) first softwood category (FSC); 2) second softwood category (SSC); 3) diffuse-porous wood category (DPC); and 4) ring-porous wood category (RPC). And genetic, silvicultural and environmental influence on the relationships was briefly discussed. Statistical results show that the relationships of specific gravity and the mechanical properties with growth rate vary remarkably with both the wood property and the wood category. In general, the mechanical properties in the FSC species decrease remarkably with increasing growth rate, while they appear to be less influenced in the SSC species. Compared with the softwoods studied, the physico-mechanical properties in the hardwoods studied are remarkably less influenced. In the DPC species, growth rate generally has very a little influence on both specific gravity and the mechanical properties. In the RPC species, the physico-mechanical properties appear not to decrease with increasing growth rate, and in some species they even tend to increase. Among the three mechanical properties studied, MOE is remarkably less influenced by growth rate than MOR and Cmax. Compared with specific gravity, however, the mechanical properties are generally more influenced by growth rate. Therefore, the impact of growth rate on wood mechanical properties in a species can not be estimated exactly through the relationship of wood specific gravity with growth rate. Path analysis reveals that growth rate has a large effect on the mechanical properties which can be accounted for by the affected specific gravity. In addition to this indirect effect through specific gravity, growth rate still has an additional effect on the mechanical properties which can not be explained by specific gravity. In the SFC species, such effect is significant, and this, to a lesser extent, applies to the DPC species. However, this effect is not remarkable in the SSC species and may be negligible in the RPC species.     

Evaluation of factors that have an influence on the fixation of chitosan in wood

Abstract

When using chitosan as an antifungal agent in wood it is important to understand which factors contribute to a higher fixation ratio to optimize the utilization of chitosan, the active component. Small pine samples were impregnated with chitosan solutions varying in molecular weight, concentration, pH, polymerization agent, acid and degree of deacetylation. Different post-treatments such as time, temperature, moisture content and the effect of present air were applied to the samples to evaluate the effect on the relative retention. After impregnation, the samples, with a volume of 1.5 cm³, were leached in separate test-tubes according to EN-84. The samples were prepared in a paired design where both samples were impregnated, but only one was leached. Both leached and unleached samples were analysed for their chitosan content, and the relative ratio was used as a measure for the relative retention of chitosan during leaching. The results from these trials show that pH in the range of 5.1–5.9 is favourable. The molecular weight should be as high as possible yet able to penetrate the wood structure, and the use of acetic acid gives far better fixation than the use of hydrochloric acid.     

Evaluation of factors that have an influence on the fixation of chitosan in wood

When using chitosan as an antifungal agent in wood it is important to understand which factors contribute to a higher fixation ratio to optimize the utilization of chitosan, the active component. Small pine samples were impregnated with chitosan solutions varying in molecular weight, concentration, pH, polymerization agent, acid and degree of deacetylation. Different post-treatments such as time, temperature, moisture content and the effect of present air were applied to the samples to evaluate the effect on the relative retention. After impregnation, the samples, with a volume of 1.5 cm³, were leached in separate test-tubes according to EN-84. The samples were prepared in a paired design where both samples were impregnated, but only one was leached. Both leached and unleached samples were analysed for their chitosan content, and the relative ratio was used as a measure for the relative retention of chitosan during leaching. The results from these trials show that pH in the range of 5.1-5.9 is favourable. The molecular weight should be as high as possible yet able to penetrate the wood structure, and the use of acetic acid gives far better fixation than the use of hydrochloric acid.