Microclimate and moisture content profile measurements in rain exposed Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) joints

In order to perform service life predictions of rain exposed wood structures, the moisture and temperature conditions in the structure need to be known as well as which degradation that occurs under those exposure conditions. The microclimate (the moisture conditions at the surface) is the boundary condition for moisture transport into the wood and depends on the detail design; joints between two pieces of wood can act as a water trap which give long durations of surface moisture after rain events and hinders drying. This study presents moisture content and microclimate measurements in three types of Norway spruce joints exposed to artificial rain in the laboratory. Both the microclimate (the duration of water on surfaces and in gaps) and the moisture content profiles were monitored. The microclimate was changed by changing the size of the gap between the two boards. The duration of water in the gap depended both on the gap size and on the permeability of the wood (sapwood/heartwood, end grain surface/side grain surface). In many cases, a larger gap width gave shorter durations of high moisture contents since a larger gap gave more favourable drying conditions, but the magnitude of this reduction varied between joint types.     

End grain water absorption and redistribution in slow-grown and fast-grown Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) heartwood and sapwood

Abstract

Wood is susceptible to decay by rot fungi if it is exposed to high-moisture contents during long periods of time and it is therefore important to limit the duration of such periods. Critical points in outdoor wood structures are, for example, end grain surfaces in joints where water can get trapped after a rain. It is therefore of interest to study both absorption and redistribution of moisture in wood. This paper presents moisture content profiles during end grain water absorption and redistribution in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) measured by computed tomography with the specimens in individual climate boxes. Heartwood and sapwood of two provenances (slow-grown and fast-grown wood) were included. No major differences were seen between the water uptake of the slow-grown and the fast-grown wood since the densities were similar despite of the large difference in growth ring width. However, for the sapwood specimens, the moisture content was higher further into the specimens than for the heartwood specimens in agreement with previous studies. For the slow-grown wood, the redistribution was also generally more rapid for the sapwood specimens than for the heartwood specimens.     

木材耐久性超疏水表面构建研究进展

木材作为一种天然可再生材料,富含亲水性基团且孔隙结构发达,因而具有很强的吸湿/水能力,易发生变形、开裂、腐朽等问题。基于“荷叶效应”原理,仿生构建木材超疏水表面是有效隔离木材与水分接触,赋予木材防水、防污、自清洁等优良特性的木材功能性改良新途径。然而超疏水木材在实际应用中不可避免地要受到刮擦磨损、阳光辐射、化学腐蚀等外界因素的影响,容易造成表面微/纳米粗糙结构的破坏或低表面能物质的降解,从而导致超疏水性能的降低或丧失,限制了超疏水木材的实际应用,因此设法提高木材表面超疏水涂层的机械稳定性和耐久性是亟待解决的关键问题。笔者首先分析了木材超疏水表面耐久性差的主要原因,介绍了木材超疏水表面耐久性能的测试方法,重点综述了木材耐久性超疏水表面的构建策略及其最新研究进展,最后对超疏水木材研究中存在的一些问题及发展趋势进行了总结和展望。     

Testing and evaluation of natural durability of wood in above ground conditions in Europe – an overview

Natural durability of wood is determined by the European standard EN 252 for specimens in ground contact and EN 113 for basidiomycetes in the laboratory, but no test exists for above ground conditions. For above ground conditions, the European prestandard ENV 12037 and EN 330 are used to determine the durability of treated wood. The most important factors for fungal establishment on the surface and within wood are the moisture content, the surrounding temperature, and the relative humidity. Strength tests are the most sensitive for decay detection, but neither strength tests nor identification of fungi responsible for the decay are included in the standards of above ground durability in field tests. To detect decay, visual examination, pick or splinter tests, and mass loss determination are used. Identifying fungi with traditional methods, e.g., growth on solid medium, is time consuming and complicated. Molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction and sequencing do not require mycological skill for identification to species level, and furthermore the methods do not depend on the subjective judgement like most traditional methods, but are based on the objective information of the target organism (e.g., nucleotide sequences). The next generation of standard field tests will probably consider the drawbacks of standard tests today and be rapid and include both quality tests like molecular identification and nondestructive quantitative tests, e.g., acoustic tests. Laboratory tests can be improved by using fungi identified from field trials and by combining different fungi in the same test and thus simulate degradation in practice.     

Non-destructive monitoring of early stages of white rot by Trametes versicolor in Fraxinus excelsior

? Non-destructive detection of fungal decay in living trees is relevant for forest management of valuable species, hazard tree assessment, and research in forest pathology. A variety of tomographic methods, based on stress wave timing, radioactive radiation, or electrical resistivity have been used to detect decay in standing trees non-destructively. But apart from mobile gamma ray computed tomography (Habermehl and Ridder, 1993) which is virtually unavailable, the detection of incipient stages of decay is still not possible.

? Wood moisture and electrolyte content influence the electric resistivity of wood. Both are changed by fungal decay. Therefore electric resistivity tomography (ERT) should detect decay in its early stages. Then it could be used to monitor the spatial and temporal progress of degradation.

? We infected four Fraxinus excelsior trees with Trametes versicolor using wooden dowels and measured two-dimensional electric resistivity tomograms 3, 10, 13 and 21 months after infection. Immediately after the last electric resistivity measurement trees were felled for further analyses of stem cross-sections. Wood moisture content and raw density had significantly increased in infected areas, but dry density had not significantly changed after 21 months. Areas of very low electric resistivity around the infected wounds correlated very well with infected wood in the stem cross-sections. Increasing areas of low electric resistivity around the infected wounds during consecutive measurements indicate increasing areas of infected wood.

? We conclude that the growth of white rot by Trametes versicolor can be monitored with electric resistivity tomography (ERT) beginning from incipient stages, even before wood density decreases. ERT could therefore be a powerful research tool for decay dynamics as well as a method for diagnosing wood decay in forestry and arboriculture.

     

Moisture content gradient in a softwood board during drying: simulation from a 2-D model and measurement

Summary A 2-D mathematical model was developed to simulate moisture movement and heat transfer in width and thickness directions within a softwood board during drying. The model is based on wood physiological features and behaviour observed during drying. In sapwood, liquid water movement is assumed to be a consequence of capillary action between liquid and gas phases inside the cell lumens. However, liquid flow does not occur in wood close to the exposed surfaces because at timber surfaces the wood cells are damaged during the sawing process and consequently the liquid column is broken. In heartwood, liquid flow is negligible since the pits are normally aspirated during the formation of heartwood in the growing tree. Water vapour moves under a partial vapour pressure gradient while bound water diffuses within the wood material due to differences in chemical potential. The model was solved numerically to predict moisture-content profiles. Experiments were undertaken to measure the moisturecontent gradient. Samples were removed from a tunnel dryer at intervals throughout drying, frozen overnight and then cut into slices for moisture-content determination. The experimental results were used to verify the model.This work is supported by the New Zealand Foundation of Research, Science and Technology under contract CO4415     

Laboratory and environmental decay of wood–plastic composite boards: flexural properties

The flexural properties of wood–plastic composite (WPC) deck boards exposed to 9.5 years of environmental decay in Hilo, Hawaii, were compared to samples exposed to moisture and decay fungi for 12 weeks in the laboratory, to establish a correlation between sample flexural properties and calculated void volume. Specimens were tested for flexural strength and modulus, both wet and dry, at 23°C and 52°C. Some specimens degenerated to only 15% of original flexural strength. UV radiation had no impact on flexural properties of field-exposed boards; loss occurred mainly on the side opposite to the sun-exposed surface. The mechanism of the aging process on colonization of WPC by fungi was examined and is consistent with development of slow crack growth in the polyethylene matrix combined with wood decay by fungi. Wood particle decay, moisture, and elevated temperature were the major factors causing composite degradation, indicated by accumulation of voids and a severe decrease in flexural properties. To simulate long-term field impact (including decay) on WPC flexural properties in the laboratory, conditioning of specimens in hot water for an extended period of time is required. Exposure to water (70°C/5 days) was adequate for simulating long-term composite exposure in Hawaii of 4?×?15?×?86 mm³ specimens.     

微坑型微织构硬质合金表面对木材摩擦特性的影响

【目的】探讨木材含水率、木材切面和纤维方向以及运动速度等因素对木材表面摩擦系数的影响规律,为设计更加合理的木材切削刀具表面织构形式提供参考和指导。【方法】以水曲柳和樟子松为研究对象,在具有不同微坑直径硬质合金表面条件下,研究木材含水率、木材切面和纤维方向以及运动速度等因素对木材表面摩擦系数的影响。【结果】与无微坑表面相比,当微坑直径为60μm、含水率为67%±3%时,在水曲柳表面产生的摩擦系数由0. 151降低到0. 091,降幅为39. 7%,在樟子松表面产生的摩擦系数由0. 241降低到0. 164,降幅为32. 0%。木材径切面上纤维方向差异对表面摩擦系数的影响不大,但在横切面上,微坑直径越小,其表现出的摩擦系数越高。摩擦过程中运动速度对表面摩擦系数的影响与木材中的水分有较大关系,当含水率处于生材状态时,表面摩擦系数随运动速度增大而降低,且微坑型结构表面产生的摩擦系数降幅明显高于无微坑表面,无微坑表面产生的摩擦系数由0. 160降低到0. 134,降幅为16. 3%,微坑直径为60μm时的摩擦系数由0. 124降低到0. 071,降幅为42. 7%。【结论】木材含水率状态对微坑型表面微织构与木材之间的摩擦系数影响较大,木材中自由水的存在有利于降低硬质合金与木材表面之间的摩擦系数。微织构直径越小,其接触角平均变化率越大,表面铺展速度越大,越有利于改善木材/硬质合金摩擦副的状态,使表面间的摩擦系数减小。     

Testing the durability of timber above ground: A review on methodology

The majority of timber products in outdoor use are exposed above ground, e.g. façades, terrace decking, playground equipment, garden furniture, windows, balconies or carports. In contrast, the durability of wood and wood products is most often determined in laboratory against Basidiomycete monocultures or in-ground field tests, where wood samples are submitted to permanent wetting. Worldwide, only a few above ground field test methods evaluating durability against fungal decay have been standardized. Wood used in above ground situations can be exposed to a wide range of moisture loads reflecting different design details such as varying shelter, distance to ground, ventilation and water trapping, whereas temperature and rainfall variations are overall influences on service life performance. The aim of this review was to gather information about standardized and non-standardized above ground field test methods used to determine the durability of wood and wood-based products. In total, more than 60 methods have been evaluated according to different criteria, such as principle set-up and design, severity of exposure and distance to ground. Their suitability to reflect a certain exposure under real-life conditions is discussed as well as practical aspects regarding acceleration measures, decay assessment and practicability, costs and time efforts.     

Proton magnetic resonance techniques for characterization of water in wood: application to white spruce

Summary Two new proton magnetic resonance techniques, relaxation spectra and relaxation selective imaging, have been used to investigate the distribution of water in samples of normal white spruce sapwood, heartwood, and juvenile wood as well as two rehydrated heartwood samples containing incipient decay and compression wood respectively. It is demonstrated that the spin-spin (T₂) relaxation behavior in wood is best presented as a continuous spectrum of relaxation times. Spectra of T₂ for white spruce show separate peaks corresponding to the different water environments. Bound water gives a peak with an T₂ time of about 1 ms and lumen water gives a distribution of T₂ times in the range of 10 to 100 ms. The lumen water T₂ time is a function of the wood cell radius. Consequently, the different cell lumen radii distributions for spruce sapwood, juvenile wood, and compression wood are readily distinguishable by the shape of their T₂ spectra. Water environments which are separable on a T₂ spectrum may be imaged separately. Imaging has been carried out in one dimension for bound water and lumen water of a spruce sapwood sample at four different moisture contents ranging from 100% to 17%. For the first time, we demonstrate that above the fibre saturation point the moisture density profile of the bound water is largely independent of moisture content. The feasibility and utility of using these techniques for internal scanning of logs and lumber is discussed. These techniques should provide new insights into the wood drying process.We would like to thank Michael Weiss of the Biological Science Electron Microscopy Facility at the University of British Columbia for his assistance with the microscopy and image analysis. This research was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Forestry Service     

The potential of moisture content measurements for testing the durability of timber products

Traditionally, the durability of timber is determined in laboratory decay tests or ground contact field tests. Since it is commonly accepted that results from those tests are not directly transferable to less severe above-ground exposures, this study aimed at assessing alternative durability measures related to the moisture performance of wood. Results from above-ground tests including continuous wood moisture monitoring were analyzed. Decay ratings determined in double-layer field tests were compared with time of wetness, and temperature- and moisture-induced dose according to a dose–response model for above-ground decay. Significant differences between European wood species were found in façade, decking, sandwich, lap-joint, and double-layer tests with respect to their moisture performance. It is concluded that for many wood-based products intended for above-ground use, a combination of short-term laboratory decay tests and mid-term moisture performance field tests may serve as time-saving alternative to long-term decay tests in the field.     

Effect of heat treatment intensity on some conferred properties of different European softwood and hardwood species

Effect of heat treatment intensity on some conferred properties like elemental composition, durability, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of different European softwood and hardwood species subjected to mild pyrolysis at 230 °C under nitrogen for different durations has been investigated. Independently of the wood species studied, elemental composition is strongly correlated with the mass losses due to thermal degradations which are directly connected to treatment intensity (duration). In all cases, an important increase in the carbon content associated with a decrease in the oxygen content was observed. Heat-treated specimens were exposed to several brown rot fungi, and the weight losses due to fungal degradation were determined after 16 weeks, while effect of wood extractives before and after thermal treatment was investigated on mycelium growth. ASE and EMC were also evaluated. Results indicated important correlations between treatment intensity and all of the wood conferred properties like its elemental composition, durability, ASE or EMC. These results clearly indicated that chemical modifications of wood cell wall polymers are directly responsible for wood decay durability improvement, but also for its improved dimensional stability as well as its reduced capability for water adsorption. All these modifications of wood properties appeared simultaneously and progressively with the increase in treatment intensity depending on treatment duration. At the same time, effect of extractives generated during thermal treatment on Poria placenta growth indicated that these latter ones have no beneficial effect on wood durability.     

Experimental determination of the convective heat and mass transfer coefficients for wood drying

The knowledge of the convective heat and mass transfer coefficients is required for the characterization of the boundary conditions of the heat and mass transfer equations of a wood drying model based on water potential. A new experimental method for the determination of the convective mass transfer coefficient is presented. This method is based on the measurement of the moisture content, and indirectly the water potential, at the surface of a wood specimen at different drying times. Drying experiments were performed on red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) sapwood from nearly saturated to dry conditions at 56 °C, 52% relative humidity and air velocities of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 m s⁻¹. The results show that the convective mass transfer coefficient is constant until the wood surface moisture content reaches about 80% and then decreases more or less gradually as the moisture content decreases further. The convective mass transfer coefficient increases with air velocity. A regression analysis shows that there is no significant improvement in considering the water potential gradient near the wood surface when the difference in water potential between the surface and the surrounding air (ψ_s − ψ_∞) is used to determine the convective mass flux at the surface. Also, ψ_s − ψ_∞ is more appropriate than the water vapour pressure difference (pv_s − pv_∞) as the responsible driving force of the moisture flux leaving the wood surface. The convective heat transfer coefficient was determined during the same experiments. A plateau is observed at high values of moisture content corresponding to the constant drying rate period. Received 27 February 1998     

Magnetic resonance imaging used for the evaluation of water presence in wood plastic composite boards exposed to exterior conditions

Abstract

Two wood plastic composite (WPC) boards, one experimental and one commercial, were exposed to exterior conditions and evaluated non-destructively using a clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit for moisture content (MC) and distribution. The experimental board was exposed in Vancouver, British Columbia, for more than 8 years, and the commercial board was exposed near Hilo, Hawaii, for 2 years. Both boards were characterized in terms of wood content, density, water uptake properties and voids content. The experimental board was additionally destructively analysed for water absorption of the WPC and MC calculated based on the wood content for verification of MRI results. MRI detected the presence of free water and its distribution in both of the WPC boards. Fibre saturation in the experimental board was found to be about 22–24%, in comparison to 25–30% present in most wood species. There was good correlation between the detection of free water by MRI and by destructive testing. Magnetic resonance images showed various major points of water entry in the WPC boards such as the support area, the cut ends, the dripping edge and the sides of the boards. For the experimental board, significant water entry also occurred at the upper exposed surface.     

Moisture movement and thickness swelling in oriented strandboard,part 1. Analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance microimaging

A procedure was developed to observe the water absorption characteristics of small specimens of oriented strandboard (OSB) and solid wood in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microimaging facility. The procedure allowed a specimen to be surrounded in water while remaining in a fixed position within the imaging coil, after which the water could be removed and the specimen immediately imaged. This technique permitted images of the specimen to be taken after a number of different periods of water soak without having to remove and replace the specimen, thus easily maintaining the same image location. Both the distribution of free water and its movement as a function of time were observed using this technique. Inter-strand voids within OSB were shown to be the main route for moisture movement through a specimen of this type. The influence of the inherent anisotropy of OSB on moisture movement was investigated by sealing selected surfaces of a specimen with silicone to observe moisture absorption in predetermined directions.     

木材内部水分扩散特性研究现状及发展趋势

扩散是水分在木材内部移动的一种重要途径。文中围绕木材内部水分的扩散机理、测试方法及其影响因素3个方面阐述水分扩散的驱动力类型及其在木材内部的基本移动路径,总结稳态和非稳态水分扩散系数的测试及计算方法;综述树种、早/晚材、心/边材、幼龄/成熟材等因素对水分扩散特性的影响机制;归纳木材含水率、温度等因素对木材内部水分扩散的作用规律;结合国内外关于水分扩散的研究现状,指出一些亟待解决的问题,以期为木材干燥、木结构建筑、木质包装材料的研究与应用提供参考。     

木材初期腐朽研究综述

木材容易受到各种微生物的侵袭,真菌腐朽是导致木材破坏最严重的一种方式,即使是在木材质量损失率很小的腐朽初期,真菌也可以迅速引起木材结构的破坏,导致木材强度的急剧降低.生物培养和显微镜观察被认为是目前唯一权威的用来检测和评估木材初期腐朽的方法,但这些方法很难对木材的初期腐朽进行快速、准确地评估.因此,寻找一种迅速、准确地检测和评估木材初期腐朽的方法倍受人们的关注.有关初期腐朽及其检测与评估的研究在国外已有大量报道,而在我国却极为少见.本文综述了近几十年国内外有关木材初期腐朽及其检测与评估的研究,旨在增强人们对木材初期腐朽危害的认识,并呼吁有关部门重视相关研究在我国的发展.     

低循环风速下木材表层水分蒸发的试验研究

木材干燥过程中,介质循环速度是一个影响木材干燥的重要工艺参数.在木材各含水率阶段,通过试验分析研究不同介质循环速度对木材干燥速度的影响.结果表明,介质循环速度对干燥速度的影响显著,但其影响随木材含水率（MC）的降低而减弱.在低介质循环速度条件下,试件MC大于45％时,表现为木材干燥速度和木材含水率偏差（△MC）随循环风速的增加而增加,呈显著正相关关系;试件MC介于35％ ～ 45％之间时,正相关关系存在但不显著;试件MC小于35％时,干燥室内循环风速的大小不影响木材的干燥速度和木材含水率偏差（△MC）.对试件表层含水率分析,试件表层含水率大于25％时,试件表面循环风速对试件表层含水率的影响显著;试件表层含水率小于25％时,试件表面循环风速对试件表层含水率的影响很小,不同循环风速下试件表层含水率基本一样.     

Properties of Esterified Wood Prepared with Maleic Anhydride ／ Tetrabr Omophthalic Anhydride ／ Glycerol Mixture

For overcoming disadvantages of wood, an esterification process was employed and tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBPA) was used as a reactive chemical agent to prepare an esterified wood with the high dimensional stability, flame resistance, and resistance to biodegradation from water-leaching. The experimental results indicated that esterification of wood plus maleic anhydride / tetrabromophthalic anhydride / glycerol could endow wood with dimensional stability, the antiswelling efficiency during water absorption (ASEw), reduction in water absorptivity (RWA), antiswelling efficiency during moisture absorption (ASEm),moisture excluding efficiency (MEE), and oxygen index (OI) of treated wood increased with an increase in the weight percent gain(WPG). And the treated wood showed great decay resistance and resistance to water leaching, too.     

时域核磁共振技术在木材科学研究领域的应用

时域核磁共振技术（TD-NMR）作为一种先进的表征手段,能快速、精准测量木材中自由水和吸着水的动态变化,也可以基于水分信息表征木材孔隙分布,因此已被广泛应用于木材科学研究领域。文中归纳了时域核磁共振技术用于测量木材含水率、水分性质、水分分布及木材孔隙分布的方法,并对主要研究结果进行综述,以期为相关领域的研究和应用提供理论参考。