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 adding steam-exploded wood flour to thermoplastic polymer/wood composite

The effect of steam-exploded wood flour (SE) added to wood flour/plastic composite was examined using SE from beech, Japanese cedar, and red meranti and three kinds of thermoplastic polymer: polymethylmethacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. Addition of SE increased the fracture strength and water resistance of the composite board to an extent dependent on the polymer species and the composition of wood/SE/polymer. However, water resistance decreased with the increasing proportion of SE when SE meranti was added. Effects of the wood species of SE on the properties of resulting board were small. An increased moisture content of wood flour or SE (or both) increased the variation of board performance.     

Binding effect of cellulose nanofibers in wood flour board

Wood-based materials are extensively used for residual construction worldwide, especially in Japan. Most wood-based materials are fabricated using adhesives, some of which are not environmentally friendly. As an alternative to chemical adhesives, we explored this issue using nanofiber technology, especially the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF), as reinforcement in wood flour (WF) board to replace chemical adhesives. We found that CNF could be easily made by pulverization in a ball mill. The physical and mechanical properties of WF board were improved by the three-dimensional binding effects of the CNF.     

Dynamic-mechanical analysis and SEM morphology of wood flour/polypropylene composites

Introduction It is well known that over the past few decades, polymers have replaced many conventional materials, such as metal and wood in many applications. This is due to the advantages of polymers over conventional materials (Maurizio et al. 1998; Adr…     

Preparation of acetylated wood meal and polypropylene composites I: acetylation of wood meal by mechanochemical processing and its characteristics

Wood meals of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D.Don) passing 2.0 mm and retained on 1.0 mm mesh screens were milled along with acetic anhydride (AA) and pyridine as a catalyst in a high-speed vibration rod mill at ambient temperature. The weight percent gain (WPG) of the chemically modified wood was calculated based on the yield after washing with deionized water. The effects of amounts of AA and catalyst added, pulverization time, and saponification of the acetylated wood on WPG were examined. In addition, FT-IR analysis, and water vapor adsorption and desorption tests were performed as functions of the WPG. Increases in WPG, the acetyl contents of the acetylated wood after saponification, changes in the FT-IR spectra after pulverization, and the water vapor sorption isotherms showed that the one-step acetylation systematically modified the hydroxyl groups of the wood into acetyl groups. Up to 38 % WPG was obtained at 100 phr AA and 15 phr catalyst, and 120 min pulverization. Pulverization time and the amounts of AA and catalyst added to the wood meals could be adjusted to obtain acetylated wood meal with the desired WPG. These demonstrated that the mechanochemical acetylation is a method to prepare acetylated wood meals with high WPG at less reaction time and required AA addition.     

Dendrochronological investigation of wood extractives

X-ray microdensitometry was applied to a set of Scots pinewood (i.e. low extractive content). Earlywood and latewood properties were determined as minimum and maximum densities of each tree ring and the potential influence of acetone-soluble extractives (i.e. non-structural and secondary constituents of wood) was estimated using tree-ring statistics. The occurrence of extractives in different portions of wood was determined using dendrochronological methods, by comparing the densities of unextracted and extracted wood. It was not only found that unextracted samples exhibited inflated earlywood and latewood density values, but the growth trends were also altered. Extractives flattened the inter-annual growth variability, both in earlywood and latewood, and influenced the estimation of intra-annual radial growth variations. Characterizing the varying amount of extractives is of inter-disciplinary importance. The results in this study describe their occurrence and show that the radial variations in extractives could be highly detailed by simply using densitometry-based dendrochronology.     

Thermoplastic flow behavior of steamed wood flour under heat and compression

In this study the thermoplastic flow behavior of steamed wood flour was investigated. First it was demonstrated that steamed Japanese beech flour flowed out of the nozzle under compression at high temperature in a thermal flow test with a capillary rheometer. The effects of the steaming temperature, steaming time, compressive pressure, and moisture content of wood flour on the thermal flow temperature were examined. It was shown that the higher the steaming temperature and compressive pressure, the lower the thermal flow temperature. Also, the thermal flow temperature of the sample steamed at 200°C for 20 min became lowest and increasingly higher over time. Furthermore, the thermal flow temperature became linearly low with increasing moisture content of the sample under 15%, whereas it became essentially constant over 15%. It is clarified that compressive pressure and moisture content as well as the steaming conditions profoundly affect the thermoplastic flow behavior of steamed wood flour.     

SEBS-g-MAH和原位接枝MAH对木粉/废旧塑料混合物复合材料力学性能的影响研究

由聚丙烯（PP）、高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）和聚苯乙烯（PS）组成的混合废旧塑料与木粉经高速混合机混合后,采用双螺杆/单螺杆串联挤出机组制备了木粉/混合废旧塑料复合材料。探讨了马来酸酐接枝苯乙烯-乙烯/丁烯-苯乙烯嵌段共聚物（SEBS-g-MAH）和原位接枝马来酸酐（MAH）对木粉/混合废旧塑料复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明,与使用MAH和DCP的原位反应共混相比,SEBS-g-MAH显著提高了复合材料的抗冲击性能,但对拉伸和弯曲性能的改善不如原位反应共混显著。总的来说,混合废旧塑料制备的复合材料的力学性能要低于纯塑料混合物制备的复合材料,尤其是拉伸断裂伸长率。微观形态研究表明,添加SEBS-g-MAH和原位接枝MAH均可提高木粉与塑料混合物之间的界面相容性,但与添加SEBS-g-MAH相比,原位接枝MAH能更好的改善PP、HDPE、PS与木粉之间的界面结合。原位接枝MAH可被看作是一种改善木粉与塑料混合物间界面相容性的有效途径。此外,采用动态力学分析（DMA）进一步表征了复合材料的储能模量和阻尼因子。     

Properties of PP/wood flour/organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites

In this research, composites based on polypropylene (PP), beech wood flour, and organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) were prepared and characterized for their properties. The blend nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing of PP/WF at 50% weight ratios with various amounts of OMMT (0, 3, and 6 per hundred compounds (phc)) in a Hakee internal mixer. Then the samples were made by injection molding. The influence of organomodified montmorillonite contents on clay dispersion, physical and mechanical properties of PP/wood flour composites were investigated. Results indicated that the flexural strength and modulus, tensile strength and modulus increased by addition of 3 per hundred compounds (phc) of organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT), but decreased with 6 phc OMMT addition. However, impact strength, water absorption and thickness swelling of the composites decreased with increasing nanoclay loading. X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the nanocomposites formed were intercalated. Also, morphological findings showed that samples containing 3 phc of OMMT had higher order of intercalation.     

Highly hydrophobic and self-cleaning bulk wood prepared by grafting long-chain alkyl onto wood cell walls

Highly hydrophobic bulk wood was successfully prepared by grafting long-chain octadecyl isocyanate (OTI) onto wood cell walls via a urethane linkage. The resulting wood was highly hydrophobic and showed significantly reduced surface free energy. The microstructure and chemical composition of the untreated and treated wood were characterized using the scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The hydrophobic property of the wood was characterized using contact angle measurements. The mechanical and physical properties as well as the chemical durability of the highly hydrophobic wood were evaluated. The results suggested that the resultant OTI-treated wood presented fairly low surface free energy, high hydrophobicity even in the wood core, and excellent stability and durability against chemical corrosion and mechanical abrasion. Furthermore, the physical properties, including self-cleaning, dimensional stability, and water uptake, were significantly improved in the treated wood.     

浙江桂幼龄材的生长特性及主要材性

以3株6年生浙江桂幼龄材为试材,研究了其生物量、材积、基本物理力学性能及生长轮的宽度、纤维长度、宽度、微纤丝角和结晶度的径向变异规律。结果表明,浙江桂幼龄材单株平均总生物量27.93 kg,平均材积0.0124 m3,生长轮平均宽度9.15 mm（3.12~10.57 mm）,基本密度为0.414 g/ cm3,除髓心外其余各生长轮宽度和密度无明显差异,反映浙江桂生长较为稳定;顺纹抗压强度、抗弯强度和弹性模量等物理力学综合性能中上等;纤维长度为830.6μm（581~1043μm）,纤维宽度为23.6μm（21~24μm）,结晶度为38.46％~58.43％,微纤丝角为13.6°~24.6°;纤维长度、宽度和结晶度自髓心向外逐渐增加,微纤丝角自髓心向外逐渐减小,结晶度与纤维长度、宽度间相关性极显著。     

Hydrophobization of wood surfaces: covalent grafting of silicone polymers

 The hydrophilicity of Maritime pine wood surfaces was modified by silicone, an extremely hydrophobic material. A generic method for the introduction of a variety of silicones at the surface of pre-treated wood was developed. The initial treatment of wood with maleic anhydride and allyl glycidyl ether resulted in oligoesterified wood bearing terminal alkenes. The hydro- osilylation of these groups, performed with hydride-terminated silicones, led to very hydrophobic surfaces, even after extensive soxhlet extraction with good solvents for silicones. Thze presence of silicon, only at the surface of hydrosilylated wood, was confirmed by ESCA. The silicones appear to be attached to the wood by covalent bonds. Received 20 December 1998     

Preliminary study of viscoelastic properties of MAPP-modified wood flour/polypropylene composites

Viscoelastic properties of maleated polypropylene (MAPP)-modified wood flour/polypropylene composites (WPC) were investigated by both a compression stress relaxation method and dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA). Three wood to polymer ratios (40:60, 60:40, and 80:20) and five MAPP loading levels (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8%) were used to study their effects on the viscoelastic properties of MAPP-WPC. The results show that: 1) higher wood to polymer ratio corresponds to higher stress relaxation levels for unmodified WPC. The modification with MAPP has an obvious effect on the stress relaxation of MAPP-WPC at higher wood to polymer ratios (60:40 and 80:20), but almost no effect at the 40:60 wood to polymer ratio. The optimal MAPP loading level for the wood to polymer ratio of 60:40 appears at 1%; 2) the storage modulus reaches its maximum at a MAPP loading level of 1% for wood to polymer ratios of 40:60 and 60:40, while for the 80:20 wood to polymer ratio, a higher storage modulus is observed at higher MAPP loading levels, which is quite consistent with the stress relaxation results. The results suggested that a suitable loading level of MAPP has a positive effect on the viscoelastic properties of WPC at higher wood to polymer ratios. Excessive MAPP loading would have resulted in adverse effects.     

Preparation and characterization of wood/montmorillonite nanocomposites

With montmorillonite (MMT) organically modified as organophilic MMT (OMMT) and water-soluble phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) as intermediate, Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) wood/MMT nanocomposites (WMNC) were prepared via nano intercalation compounding and characterized by XRD, SEM and FTIR. Results show that: 1) the preparation of OMMT is very successful; 2) the self-made PF can effectively intercalate into MMT to increase markably its gallery distance and even exfoliate its nano silicate laminae; 3) the XRD analysis indicates that some exfoliated MMT enters the non-crystallized region of microfibrils in wood cell walls and the crystallinity degree of wood in WMNC decreases; 4) the SEM graphs show that multiform MMT exists in WMNC. Some grains block in wood cell lumen, some layers adhere to the wood surface of the inner cell wall and some exfoliated nanolaminae even insert into wood cell walls; and 5) the FTIR analysis suggests that MMT and wood in WMNC perhaps interact via certain chemical bonding.     

Study of the release in water of chemicals used for wood preservation. Effect of wood dimensions

Summary Various chemicals are used for protecting wood samples against fungi, and some of them are released in water, leading to pollution of the water. The kinetics of pentachlorophenol release in water has here been studied by considering the diffusion through the wood along the three principal axes of diffusion. The experiments and the modelling of the process is successfully coupled. The numerical model takes into account the three principal diffusivities, the partition factor, the volumes of wood and water. The effect of wood sample length along the longitudinal axis of diffusion is studied especially, as longitudinal diffusivity is much higher than the other two principal diffusivities. The effects of the relative volumes of wood and water are also of considerable interest not only for the concentration of the chemical in water but also for the rate of release.Symbols C concentration of liquid (g/cm³)_ - C _c ,C _eq concentration of liquid on the surface, at equilibrium with the surrounding, respectively - C _i,j,k concentration of liquid in the wood at positioni, j, k - D diffusivity (cm²/s) - h coefficient of mass transfer on the surface (cm/s) - K partition factor - i, j, k integers characterizing the position in the wood - M _L ,M _R ,M _T dimensionless numbers - M _t ,M amount of chemical released after time t, after infinite time, respectively - t increment of time - L, R, T thickness of the slices taken in the wood for calculation - N _L ,N _R ,N _T number of slices taken in the wood - x, y, z coordinates - V _water volume of the surrounding water     

Dielectric properties of Simon poplar wood flour/polypropylene composite at oven-dry state

Interfacial compatibility is a crucial factor to the performance of wood-plastic composites （WPCs）. Yet, so far, the coupling mechanisms of WPC have not been completely understood. In order to further clarify the interfacial coupling mechanism, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor of Simon poplar wood flour/polypropylene composites without additives at different wood contents were measured at oven-dry state, and parameters and thermodynamic quantities of the relaxation process were also analyzed and calculated. Consequently, an obvious relaxation process based on the reorientation of methanol groups in amorphous region of wood cell wall was observed exactly that its dielectric loss factor peak decreased with the decreasing wood content within the measured range of 50%-100%. With the trend of dielectric relaxation strength, the two changing trends both revealed that the existence of polypropylene could hinder reorientation of methanol groups. Following the decreasing wood contents, the effect of the hindrance on the dielectric properties turned obvious gradually. It elucidated that introduction of polypropylene caused the quantities of hydrogen bonds formed between each methanol group and the groups around it change. The same conclusion could be drawn from the analysis of thermodynamic quantities during the dielectric relaxation progress.     

The properties of flax fiber reinforced wood flour/high density polyethylene composites

Flax fiber(FF) was used to reinforce wood flour/high density polyethylene composites(WF/PE).WF/PE particles were uniformly mixed with FF via high-speed mixing and then extruded with a single screw extruder to prepare FF reinforced WF/PE composites(FF/WF/PE).Mechanical testing,dynamic mechanical analysis,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),creep measurement and Torque rheology were used to characterize the resulting composites.The results indicate that the mechanical performance of the composites could be remarkably improved by adding a limited amount of FF.The flexural strength and modulus increased by 14.6 and 51.4%,respectively(FF content of 9 wt%),while the unnotched impact strength could be increased by 26.5%(FF content of12 wt%).The creep resistance and toughness of thecomposite was markedly improved without changing the plastic content of the composite material.