Application of a modified rate equation to the acetylation of wood

A modified rate equation, in which the diffusion of reagent was taken into consideration, was proposed and applied to results reported previously for the acetylation of wood. The equation was fitted more successfully to the prolonged as well as the early stage of the reaction than a common first-order rate equation. Although the conclusions were virtually unchanged, the reliability was enhanced because reaction parameters such as the rate constant, ultimate extent of the reaction, and activation energy calculated for the modified equation were based on much more data than those reported previously. The equation proposed here may be applicable not only to acetylation but to other chemical modifications of cellulosic materials in heterogeneous systems.     

Field test of resistance of modified wood to marine borers

Abstract

Five mineral fillers were tested for wood–plastic composites (WPCs): calcium carbonate, two different types of wollastonite, soapstone and talc. The impact of the fillers on the mechanical properties of the composites was studied. The experiments included bending tests, tensile tests, Brinell hardness and scanning electron microscopy experiments. The amount of wood, mineral and plastic (polypropylene) was kept steady. Only the mineral type was changed during the tests. A control sample without any mineral added was also manufactured. The mineral addition improved the tensile strength of the WPCs. The hardness of the composite was also improved when the minerals were added, and along with the increasing mineral hardness, the hardness of the composite increased. The wollastonite acicular shape was crushed during the manufacturing process, so the phase of the process in which the minerals are added requires careful consideration.     

心材提取物和专用木材防腐剂作为木材保护剂的相对功效

本文调查了三种耐用木材(Afzelia africana J.E. Smith; Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill & Perr.) Brenam. Syn. E guinensis G.Don. or Milicia excelsa (Welw) C.C. Berg. Syn. Chlorophora excelsa (Welw) Benth.)的心材提取物（在60%的甲醇中风干提取）和两种专用木材防腐剂（CCA和Penta）在暴露的土壤区组设计条件下，抑制三种木材腐朽菌(Coridopsis Polyzona Klotzch; Lenzites trabea; or Trametes cingulata Fr.)对见血封喉边材的侵袭的相对潜能，并测定其阈值。提取物和防腐剂的剂量分别是8.009、24.778、48.056、96.111、144.167 kg·m-3 ，样品的暴露处理时间与ASTM D1413-72规定的一致分别是14周和18周。结果显示：在阈值范围内，任何一种心材提取物或木材防腐剂在研究中对木材腐朽菌的抑制能力在0.01的显著水平下，差异显著。这些生物杀灭剂的相对功效是取决于真菌的种类。没有任何一种心材提取物或木材防腐剂（除在用最高的存留水平处理被侵袭的非洲毒箭木的条件下）对于被处理的木材能够授予"非常持久"等级。本土树种的心材提取物相对持久力的减少的可能原因是复杂的。在最高的存留量（144.167 kg·m-3）水平下，在0.05显著水平下每种心材提取物和任一种专用木材防腐剂（CCA和Penta）之间的功效差异不显著.     

Weathering of chemically modified wood surfaces

Summary Scots pine wood veneers were acetylated to weight gains of 5, 10, 15 or 20% and exposed to natural weathering. Veneers acetylated to low weight gains of 5 and 10% and exposed to the weather showed greater losses in mass and tensile strength due to increased delignification and depolymerisation of cellulose than similarly exposed, untreated controls. Acetylation to 20% weight gain restricted the loss of veneer mass and holocellulose during exposure. Initially it also slightly reduced the depolymerisation of cellulose, and this was reflected in lower losses in veneer zero-span tensile strength after 35 days exposure. However, the photoprotective effects of acetylation, with the exception of veneer mass, were lost with prolonged exposure of veneers to the weather. Acetylation of wood blocks to 20% weight gain caused a bulking of the wood cell wall, particularly the S₃ layer of the secondary wall, and reductions in lumen size. Acetylated latewood cells maintained their shape and radial orientation during exterior exposure, but acetylation did not prevent erosion of the middle lamella. Mechanisms to explain how acetylation may affect the weathering resistance of wood are suggested. Received 26 May 1998     

Production and markets of modified wood in Russia

Understanding the state of market for modified wood as well as the forces that affect its future development will be essential for those seeking to enter the Russian market. Information on modified wood from websites of companies, research and development organisations, woodworking-oriented magazines and forums, and official Russian statistics were explored, and finally verified by personal contacts with experts. A number of modification methods have been either researched, developed or pre-commercialised during the past 15 years, but only few of them have been adopted by users. Mostly, the modification methods have been copied, further developed and commercialised from variations of thermal modification originally introduced in Western Europe. Modified wood products are still considered premium goods among Russian consumers. Political initiatives aim at increasing the share of wood in construction and renovation but also at import minimisation, which reduces the penetration of foreign producers into the markets. There are approximately 20 producers of thermally modified timber (TMT) with an overall annual capacity of 60,000–65,000 m³. The current annual market for TMT is estimated to be approximately €35–40 million. In contrast to the European mainstream end uses of TMT, there is also a market for massive and glued thermally modified logs in Russia.     

Shape stability of modified engineering wood product subjected to moisture variation

Abstract

A modified softwood product would enable the utilization of softwood in new areas. Densification is an old modification method to improve wood properties such as hardness and resistance to abrasion. A major problem with densified wood is, however, its ability to retain its original dimensions under the influence of moisture. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of surface to bottom layer thickness ratio on the shape stability of a modified and three-layered cross-laminated engineering wood product (EWP) subjected to moisture variations. The study describes a simple solid wood densification technique based on compressing a clear solid piece of softwood with vertical annual rings in the radial direction by restraining the tangential expansion. Three-layered cross-laminated EWP was manufactured with the densified wood as a surface layer. The recovery of the densified wood in the surface layer was then reduced to movements in the same level as the other two layers of unmodified wood. The EWP was subjected to climatic variations in order to investigate its shape stability. The results disclosed that an appreciable degree of shape stability was obtained by an increase in the surface to bottom layer thickness ratio of the EWP.     

The use of an acoustic technique to assess wood decay in laboratory soil-bed tests

This study assesses the changes in elastic behaviour (i.e. modulus of elasticity – MOE) and mass loss of different hardwood and softwood species exposed to decay in laboratory soil-bed tests. Elasticity moduli were determined using conventional static methods as well as a dynamic method based on flexural vibration. The results obtained show a high correlation between dynamic and static bending measurements for all the timber species tested at different stages of fungal decay. Furthermore, the non-destructive MOE assessment proved to be a good tool for the early detection of wood decay. Received 5 January 1999     

Screening of properties of modified chitosan-treated wood

Abstract

Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin in crustacean shells. Over the past decade it has been studied as an environmentally benign wood-protecting agent. It is assumed to act as a fungi-stat against a wide range of fungi and even as a fungicide at higher concentrations. This study investigated the properties of wood treated with modified chitosan of different molecular weights. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) samples were impregnated with two chitosan solutions differing in their average molecular weights. The chitosan solutions were depolymerized by nitrous acid to one solution of high molecular weight and one solution of low molecular weight with a concentration of 5% (w/v). The results show changes in sorption properties, antifungal properties, fire-retardant properties and mechanical properties of modified chitosan-treated wood. Heat-modified, chitosan-treated wood showed similar properties to chitosan-treated wood, except for brownish coloration, enhanced hydrophobation, and slightly reduced antifungal and fire-retardant properties. The modulus of rupture and hardness showed little or no change. The modulus of elasticity of the heat-modified, chitosan-treated wood increased by 27% compared with untreated wood.     

Screening of properties of modified chitosan-treated wood

Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin in crustacean shells. Over the past decade it has been studied as an environmentally benign wood-protecting agent. It is assumed to act as a fungi-stat against a wide range of fungi and even as a fungicide at higher concentrations. This study investigated the properties of wood treated with modified chitosan of different molecular weights. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) samples were impregnated with two chitosan solutions differing in their average molecular weights. The chitosan solutions were depolymerized by nitrous acid to one solution of high molecular weight and one solution of low molecular weight with a concentration of 5% (w/v). The results show changes in sorption properties, antifungal properties, fire-retardant properties and mechanical properties of modified chitosan-treated wood. Heat-modified, chitosan-treated wood showed similar properties to chitosan-treated wood, except for brownish coloration, enhanced hydrophobation, and slightly reduced antifungal and fire-retardant properties. The modulus of rupture and hardness showed little or no change. The modulus of elasticity of the heat-modified, chitosan-treated wood increased by 27% compared with untreated wood.     

Fungal colonisation of outside weathered modified wood

Specimens of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) and beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) were treated with an amino-alkyl-functional oligomeric siloxane, a sodium water glass solution and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU). Treated and untreated wood specimens were exposed outdoors without ground contact. After 9?months of outside exposure, all specimens showed discolouration caused by infestations of mould and staining fungi on the exposed wood surface. Fungi grown on the sample surface were isolated and identified by microscopic technique and sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA from the ITS region. Primarily, an infestation by ascomycetes and related deuteromycetes was found. The most dominant fungi were Trichoderma sp. and Epicoccum sp.. An infestation of Aureobasidium pullulans was only detected on untreated and DMDHEU-treated samples. There were only marginal differences of fungal infestation between the two wood species.     

Strength properties of thermally modified softwoods and its relation to polymeric structural wood constituents

Thermal modification at relatively high temperatures (ranging from 150 to 260 °C) is an effective method to improve the dimensional stability and resistance against fungal attack. This study was performed to investigate the impact of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of wood. An industrially-used two-stage heat treatment method under relative mild conditions (< 200 °C) was used to treat the boards. Heat treatment revealed a clear effect on the mechanical properties of softwood species. The tensile strength parallel to the grain showed a rather large decrease, whereas the compressive strength parallel to the fibre increased after heat treatment. The bending strength, which is a combination of the tensile stress, compressive stress and shear stress, was lower after heat treatment. This decrease was less than the decrease of only the tensile strength. The impact strength showed a rather large decrease after heat treatment. An increase of the modulus of elasticity during the bending test has been noticed after heat treatment. Changes and/or modifications of the main wood components appear to be involved in the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties. The possible effect of degradation and modification of hemicelluloses, degradation and/or crystallization of amorphous cellulose, and polycondensation reactions of lignin on the mechanical properties of heat treated wood have been discussed. The effect of natural defects, such as knots, resin pockets, abnormal slope of grain and reaction wood, on the strength properties of wood appeared to be affected by heat treatment. Nevertheless, heat treated timber shows potential for use in constructions, but it is important to carefully consider the stresses that occur in a construction and some practical consequences when heat treated timber is used.     

Mechanical behaviour of Eucalyptus wood modified by heat

Summary  Eucalyptus wood (Blue gum) shows very high mechanical performances, presents very few knots and gives strong glued joints, reasons that justify its interest for structural uses, carpentry and furniture components or even building construction. The inconveniences of this species are its slow and difficult drying process and its low dimensional stability – with very high swelling and shrinkage coefficients. The drying process has been studied at INETI and the problem revealed to be solved with appropriate drying schedules and the stresses released by a steam treatment. Heat treatment of Eucalyptus wood has been identified as one of the most promising techniques to increase its dimensional stability. Studies in this area still proceed. This paper presents some test results that show the influence of heat treatment in the strength properties of this wood, namely the bending modulus of elasticity and tensile strength perpendicular to grain, in addition to the explanation of dimensional stability evaluation and some results of dimensional stability treatments. Received 15 June 1998     

Classification of thermally modified wood by FT-NIR spectroscopy and SIMCA

Quality assessment of thermally modified wood has evolved as one of the major fields in the research on thermal modification of wood. This study investigates NIR spectroscopy in combination with the pattern recognition method of soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA). Focus is put on identifying different treatment intensities of thermally modified samples of beech, ash, and Norway spruce. The results indicate that SIMCA classification based on NIR spectroscopy could be used for quality control of thermally modified wood. The method might be applicable for producers (pre-delivery checks) and customers (reception control). However, transfer from laboratory to industrial conditions needs further investigation.     

Investigation of the maximum front to back load in the chairs made from curved and modified poplar wood

The aim of this research was to build a chair resistant to force from front to back. To achieve this goal, poplar wood was treated with heat and steam, and then curved at an angle of 90°. Curved frame was used for manufacturing chairs. In this study, three different designs of chairs were used. Control sample is a chair of custom type. The first design was a chair with a curved frame forming the structure back down to bottom (one-piece type) and the second design with two curved parts (two-piece type). Front to back load tests were conducted by mechanical universal testing machine in accordance with DIN EN 1729-2 standard. For each design, the test was repeated three times. The results of the experiment showed that differences between the designs were significant. The full type chairs were broken at the load about 1725 N, but the partial type chairs at about 1421 N. For the top to bottom load test, the full type chairs were broken at about 1052 N, other chairs were more resistant. In general, by introducing a design using the curved frame made of treated poplar, the resistance of chairs is improved.     

Sorption of copper and lead by citric acid modified wood

The sorption characteristics of citric acid modified wood to remove copper and lead ions from aqueous solution under batch conditions have been investigated. Sorption was pH dependent with increasing uptake at higher pH values. The kinetics of sorption for both ions was rapid with 90% sorption taking place within the first 60 min regardless of its initial concentration. Sorption can be explained by a second-order kinetics model from which the rate constant, the equilibrium sorption capacity and the initial rate were calculated. From these parameters, the predictive models for Cu and Pb sorbed (q _t) in time t and at an initial concentration (C _o) are given by q _t=C _o t[0.31C _o–2.29+(0.04C _o+5.19)t] and q _t=C _o t/[0.06C _o–6.59+(0.01C _o+4.48)t] for Cu and Pb, respectively. Using these models the predicted and experimental uptakes of Cu and Pb were compared and discussed. Maximum sorption capacities of modified wood under present experimental conditions were 23.70 and 82.64 mg/g for Cu and Pb, respectively. However, for untreated wood the corresponding values were 2.56 and 7.71 mg/g indicating a tenfold increase in sorption upon citric acid modification. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid complexed with both ions render sorption less favorably. However, salicylic acid had little influence. In a binary system, Pb ions were more favorably sorbed than Cu ions which could be due to the larger ionic radius of the former ions.     

A novel approach to optimize management strategies for carbon stored in both forests and wood products

We present a new approach to maximize carbon (C) storage in both forest and wood products using optimization within a forest management model (Remsoft Spatial Planning System). This method was used to evaluate four alternative objective functions, to maximize: (a) volume harvested, (b) wood product C storage, (c) forest C storage, and (d) C storage in the forest and products, over 300 years for a 30,000 ha hypothetical forest in New Brunswick, Canada. Effects of three initial forest age-structures and a range of product substitution rates were tested. Results showed that in many cases, C storage in product pools (especially in landfills) plus on-site forest C was equivalent to forest C storage resulting from reduced harvest. In other words, accounting for only forest, and not products and landfill C, underestimates true forest contributions to C sequestration, and may result in spurious C maximization strategies. The scenario to maximize harvest resulted in mean harvest for years 1–200 of 3.16 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and total C sequestration of 0.126 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, versus 0.98 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 0.228 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for a scenario to maximize forest C. When maximizing total (forest + products) C, mean harvest and total C storage for years 1–200 was 173% and 5% higher, respectively, than when maximizing forest C; and 218% and 6% higher, respectively, when maximizing substitution benefits (0.25 t of avoided C emissions per m³ of lumber used) in addition to total C. Initial forest age-structure affected harvest in years 1–50 < 34% among the four alternative management objective scenarios, and resulted in mean C sequestration rates of 0.31, 0.10, and −0.14 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ when maximizing total C storage for young, even-aged, and old forests, respectively. Our results reinforce the importance of including products in forest-sector C budgets, and demonstrate how including product C in management can maximize forest contributions toward reduced atmospheric CO₂ at operational scales.     

DETERMINE ON INITIAL DIMENSIONAL STABILITY OF CHEMICAL MODIFIED WOOD

Strain development along radial direction was continuously determined by D—200Linear Variable Differential Transformers(L.V.D.T).When a wood specimen was put into waterand begin to swell from absolute dry moisture content to the maximum.Experiment results showthat the differences of swelling with soaking time between untreated and treated wood specimens dueto uptaking water.It would also give an indication to the effectiveness of various chemicals on thedimensional stability of modified wood.ASE of modified wood samples with SA-EP,EP and SA were found to be better than MA-AGE.SA-EP had got the best effetiveness on dimensional stabili-ty in reducing the swelling.     

植物精油对木材霉变菌的抑菌效力研究

【目的】植物精油是一类安全环保且具有抑菌特性的天然产物,在木材霉变防治领域的应用潜力很大。开展植物精油对我国常见木材霉菌及变色菌的综合抑菌效力的研究,可为天然环保型木材霉变防治剂的开发提供重要依据。【方法】配制经植物精油修正的马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂培养基,通过评价霉变菌在培养基中的生长状况,对比分析19种植物精油对6种木材霉变菌的抑菌效力。【结果】在体积分数为0.05%的条件下,19种植物精油对黑曲霉Aspergillus niger、桔青霉Penicillam citrinum、绿色木霉Trichoderma viride、可可球二孢Botryodiplodia theobromae、串珠镰刀菌Fusarium moniliforme和链格孢霉Alternaria alternata的抑菌效力分别为0~100%、0~100%、0~100%、0~100%、11%~100%和20%~100%。聚类分析表明,肉桂、丁香花和百里香精油的综合抑菌效力最高,在体积分数0.05%的条件下对6种霉变菌的抑菌效力均达到100%,而尤加利、甜橙和松树精油的综合抑菌效力最低。相关分析表明,植物精油对6种霉变菌的抑菌效力之间均表现出显著相关性(P=0.01),其Pearson相关系数为0.777~0.959。【结论】不同植物精油的抑菌效力之间表现出较大差异,肉桂、丁香花和百里香精油是可以用于木材霉变防治的较优品种。     

Modelling mould growth on coated modified and unmodified wood substrates exposed outdoors

Mould growth on coated wood is today a genuine challenge for house owners. Environmentally sound wooden facades with long service lives and acceptable appearance are desired. The objective in this study was to investigate the accumulated mould growth on 13 different wood substrates with 3 surface coating systems by identifying the factors that contribute to the variation and to predict future performance. A generalized linear mixed model was fit to the data with the analysis showing that coating and exposure time both had highly significant influences on mould growth. Further, wood substrate was significant, but comparatively less than coating and exposure time. A smaller coefficient for mould coverage in the beginning of the exposure period gave the panels with one of the coating systems, BAP, a delay in mould growth, and the extrapolated values for years 6–12 indicate a longer aesthetic service life than panels with the two other coating systems. Coated heartwood as wood type was less susceptible to mould growth than coated mixed wood and coated sapwood. Acetylated pine as wood substrate and aspen as wood species had lower resistance to mould growth than the other wood substrates and wood species, respectively.