Tensile strength of softwood butt end joints. Part 1: Effect of grain angle on adhesive bond strength

Abstract

To study the effect of grain angle on the adhesive bond strength in wood, three-part Norway spruce wood specimens were bonded and tested in tension. The two axially orientated outer parts of the specimens were joined with the middle part by means of three adhesives typically used for load-bearing constructions, i.e. one-component polyurethane (PUR), melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) and phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde (PRF). The grain angle of the middle part was varied from 0° (end grain to end grain) to 90° (flat grain to end grain) in incremental steps of 10°. In general, PRF- and MUF-bonded samples exhibited highest tensile strength at end grain to end grain orientation of the three parts, while specimens bonded with PUR showed only 25% of the strength measured for PRF and MUF, respectively. At high grain angles (90°) all specimens showed similar strength values in the range of 30% of maximum strength of MUF- and PRF-bonded specimens. To explain the changing strength levels at different grain angle a composite failure criterion was applied.     

Tensile strength of softwood butt end joints. Part 2: Improvement of bond strength by a hydroxymethylated resorcinol primer

Abstract

In a previous study it was shown that the mechanical stability of an end-grain joint bonded with a one-component polyurethane adhesive (PUR) was insufficient compared with melamine–urea–formaldehyde and phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde bonding. Based on this, the aim of this study was to improve the mechanical stability of the end-grain joint by means of a hydroxymethylated resorcinol (HMR) primer and by increasing the spreading quantity. To study the effect of HMR and the increased spreading quantity on the adhesive bond strength of end-grain to end-grain-bonded wood samples, three-part Norway spruce wood specimens were tested in tension. Before bonding, each end-grain surface was treated with an aqueous solution of HMR. The two axially orientated outer parts of the specimens were jointed with the middle part using a PUR adhesive. Compared with untreated, i.e. non-primed samples, the tensile strength of HMR-treated specimens was more than doubled. Furthermore, a positive effect of increased adhesive spread was shown for untreated PUR-bonded samples. An increase in adhesive spread by a factor of 1.6 led to an improvement in tensile strength by a factor of about 2.6.     

Influence of growth ring angle,adhesive system and viscosity on the shear strength of adhesive bonds

Abstract

To investigate the influence of growth ring angle, adhesive system and viscosity on the bonding properties of adhesive bonds, shear tension tests according to DIN EN 302-1 (2004) were conducted using one-component moisture-curing polyurethane, polyvinylacetate and urea-formaldehyde. Significant differences between the systems could be detected, which were reflected in the predominant failure behaviour for each system. Specimens showing wood failure were influenced mainly by the wood factors, whereas samples which had failed in the adhesive part of the bond differed only in the adhesive properties. The growth ring angle showed the same tendencies as it does in plain wood. Therefore, to gain more information on the adhesive performance in the bond, a loading along the LT plane seems more appropriate for beech wood used in DIN EN 302-1 (2004).     

Comparison of the effect of chemical and mechanical treatment of end-grain surfaces on adhesive bond strength

Abstract

End-grain surfaces of spruce wood specimens that were planed with a microtome knife were chemically modified by treatment with bleaching reagents, namely sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid, and the effect of the surface modification on bond strength of end-grain joints was studied. The chemically treated samples were compared with sawn surfaces, microtome-planed specimens that were additionally irradiated by light, and surfaces that were solely planed with a microtome knife. Significantly higher bond strength compared with the microtome-planed specimens was observed for the sawn specimens and for hypochlorite-modified samples. These findings were ascribed on the one hand to an increased surface roughness resulting from the mechanical process of sawing leading to an enlargement of the bonding area. On the other hand, during the etching process with sodium hypochlorite a pulp of cell walls and cell wall fragments was formed, leading to a partially closed surface which prevented overpenetration of adhesive into the opened cells.     

Effect of grain angle on shear strength of glued end grain to flat grain joints of defect-free softwood timber

To evaluate the effect of grain orientation on the adhesive bond strength, three-layered Norway spruce wood specimens were tested in shear. The two axial-oriented outer layers were jointed with the middle layer using three typical glues for load bearing constructions, i.e. one-component polyurethane (PUR), melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) and phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde (PRF). The grain orientation of the middle layers was varied from 0° (parallel to grain of the surface layer) to 90° (perpendicular to grain of the surface layer) in incremental steps of 10°. Samples with middle layers oriented parallel to the outer layers showed shear values in the range of solid spruce wood. Decreased shear strength values were expected for increased grain angles of the middle layer. However, no explicit tendency was observed for the shear strength in dependence of the grain direction. In general, MUF-bonded samples showed slightly higher shear strength values compared with PUR- and PRF-bonded specimens.