Effects of chemical modification with glutaraldehyde on the weathering performance of Scots pine sapwood

Scots pine sapwood was treated with glutaraldehyde (GA) in aqueous solution using magnesium chloride as a catalyst in order to evaluate the durability towards weathering. Infrared spectroscopy suggested that GA treatment increased the photo-stability of lignin during artificial weathering of micro-veneers in a QUV over 168?h; photo-protection increased with increasing GA concentration. In comparison with the unmodified controls, GA-modified pine micro-veneer strips exhibited a lower tensile strength loss measured in a zero-span mode in the course of weathering. During 18?months of outdoor exposure, GA-modified pine wood boards exhibited a lower moisture content and water uptake than the unmodified ones. GA treatment also clearly restricted the penetration of blue stain fungi into deeper layers of wood. On the macroscopic scale, the surface of the GA-modified boards was significantly smoother due to less erosion, cracking and minor peeling of tracheids. Scanning electron microscopy further revealed that individual tracheids were detached from the cell compound and then washed away from the unmodified wood surface, whereas tracheids on surfaces of GA-modified wood remained in the tissue compound but displayed many axial and transversal cracks.     

Determination of the effective water conductivity of red pine sapwood

Summary The instantaneous profile method was used to establish the boundary desorption curve of the effective water conductivity function of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) sapwood in the radial and tangential directions from nearly saturated to dry conditions at 18, 56 and 85 °C. The results obtained demonstrate that the effective water conductivity is a function of moisture content, temperature, and direction of flow. The effective water conductivity increases by several orders of magnitude (10⁴–10⁵) as moisture content increases from dry to nearly saturated conditions at a given temperature. The effective water conductivity also increases by a factor varying between 10 and 50 as temperature rises from 18 to 85 °C in the moisture content range considered. The variation of the moisture content–water potential relationship with temperature can explain part of the temperature effect. The effective water conductivity was generally higher in the radial direction than in the tangential direction in a ratio varying from about 1/1 to 3/1 depending on moisture content and temperature. Finally, the flux–gradient relationships obtained at given moisture contents were found to be linear, confirming the validity of using a moisture flux equation considering the water potential gradient as the driving force for the experimental conditions considered in the present work. The knowledge of the effective water conductivity function and of the moisture content–water potential relationship allows the utilization of a two-dimensional model of moisture movement in wood during drying using the gradient in water potential as the driving force for drying at temperatures up to 85 °C. Received 27 February 1998     

Climate influences the leaf area/sapwood area ratio in Scots pine

We tested the hypothesis that the leaf area/sapwood area ratio in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is influenced by site differences in water vapor pressure deficit of the air (D). Two stands of the same provenance were selected, one in western Scotland and one in eastern England, so that effects resulting from age, genetic variability, density and fertility were minimized. Compared with the Scots pine trees at the cooler and wetter site in Scotland, the trees at the warmer and drier site in England produced less leaf area per unit of conducting sapwood area both at a stem height of 1.3 m and at the base of the live crown, whereas stem permeability was similar at both sites. Also, trees at the drier site had less leaf area per unit branch cross-sectional area at the branch base than trees at the wetter site. For each site, the average values for leaf area, sapwood area and permeability were used, together with values of transpiration rates at different D, to calculate average stem water potential gradients. Changes in the leaf area/sapwood area ratio acted to maintain a similar water potential gradient in the stems of trees at both sites despite climatic differences between the sites.     

Chemical characterization of Pinus halepensis sapwood and heartwood

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the chemical composition of sapwood (SW) and heartwood (HW) of Pinus halepensis Mill stem. Extractives were first isolated by accelerated solvent extraction and then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The cellulosic polysaccharide content present in the pre-extracted wood samples was determined with acid hydrolysis and GC. The hemicelluloses content was determined with acid methanolysis and GC. Free monomers were additionally analysed by GC. The amount of lignin was determined gravimetrically by the Klason lignin method and the acid-soluble lignin was determined by a UV method. Formic and acetic acids in wood were determined after alkaline hydrolysis and analysed by HP-SEC. It was found that lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives were more abundant in heartwood (1.6% and 2.5%) than in sapwood (1.1% and 1.8%). Celluloses content was higher in sapwood (42.5%) than in heartwood (39.7%), whereas lignin, hemicelluloses and sugar monomer contents were more abundant in heartwood (28.9%, 26.8% and 0.3%) than in sapwood (28.0%, 24.5% and 0.2%). The variation in acetic and formic acids and ash contents between sapwood (0.7%, 0.2% and 0.5%) and heartwood (0.6%, 0.1% and 0.4%) was small. The acetylation degrees were found to be slightly similar in sapwood (0.4) and heartwood (0.3).     

Distribution of preservatives in thermally modified Scots pine and Norway spruce sapwood

Studying the impregnation and distribution of oil-based preservative in dried wood is complicated as wood is a nonhomogeneous, hygroscopic and porous material, and especially of anisotropic nature. However, this study is important since it has influence on the durability of wood. To enhance the durability of thermally modified wood, a new method for preservative impregnation is introduced, avoiding the need for external pressure or vacuum. This article presents a study on preservative distribution in thermally treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) sapwood using computed tomography scanning, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Secondary treatment of thermally modified wood was performed on a laboratory scale by impregnation with two types of preservatives, viz. Elit Träskydd (Beckers) and pine tar (tar), to evaluate their distribution in the wood cells. Preservative solutions were impregnated in the wood using a simple and effective method. Samples were preheated to 170 °C in a drying oven and immediately submerged in preservative solutions for simultaneous impregnation and cooling. Tar penetration was found higher than Beckers, and their distribution decreased with increasing sample length. Owing to some anatomical properties, uptake of preservatives was low in spruce. Besides, dry-induced interstitial spaces, which are proven important flow paths for seasoned wood, were not observed in this species.     

Variation in treatability of Scots pine sapwood: a survey of 25 different northern European locations

The treatability of Scots pine sapwood sampled from 25 locations in northern Europe, which was impregnated with an experimental furfuryl alcohol mix, was studied. A large variation in treatability was found between stands. The treatability was affected by anatomical properties of the trees and therefore also by the immediate climate, the sociological position of the tree in the stand, growth increments and on-stand competition. With the models applied, most parts of the differences in treatability between stands could be explained, while the treatability variation between trees within a stand remained mostly unexplained. Wider annual rings and higher latewood contents were found to increase the treatability. Models that included data on growth conditions and climate explain more of the variation in treatability, indicating that also other anatomical properties are influencing the treatability. Tree attributes and growth conditions that reduce annual ring width and latewood content decreased the treatability. Trees growing under warmer conditions and developing larger growth increments were easier to impregnate. Wood from trees growing near the timberline and under environmental conditions impairing wood growth was more difficult to treat.     

Resistance of mechanically densified and thermally post-treated pine sapwood to wood decay fungi

This paper evaluated the density and biological resistance of pinewood samples modified with thermo-mechanical densification and thermal post-treatment. The samples were densified with 20 and 40% compression ratios at either 110 or 150 °C. The thermal post-treatment was then applied to the pine samples at 185 and 212 °C for 2 h. These samples were exposed to white-rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown-rot (Coniophora puteana) fungi for twelve weeks and the resulting mass loss was determined. In the densified samples, the effects of the compression ratio on T. versicolor-initiated mass loss and of the compression temperature on C. puteana-initiated mass loss were found to be significant. The mass loss was less in the samples compressed at 150 °C with the 40% ratio, while the highest mass loss was observed in the undensified samples. In the thermally post-treated samples, the resistance to both decay fungi was significantly increased with the increase of the treatment temperature. The mass loss in the thermally post-treated samples at 212 °C after T. versicolor and C. puteana fungi testing was reduced by 73 and 67%, respectively. However, the effect of the densification processes on decay resistance in the thermally post-treated samples was insignificant.     

Growth response and sapwood hydraulic properties of young lodgepole pine following repeated fertilization

We examined how tree growth and hydraulic properties of branches and boles are influenced by periodic (about 6 years) and annual fertilization in two juvenile lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Mean basal area (BA), diameter at breast height (DBH) and height increments and percent earlywood and sapwood hydraulic parameters of branches and boles were measured 7 or 8 years after the initial treatments at Sheridan Creek and Kenneth Creek. At Sheridan Creek, fertilization significantly increased BA and DBH increments, but had no effect on height increment. At Kenneth Creek, fertilization increased BA, but fertilized trees had significantly lower height increments than control trees. Sapwood permeability was greater in lower branches of repeatedly fertilized trees than in those of control trees. Sapwood permeabilities of the lower branches of trees in the control, periodic and annual treatments were 0.24 x 10(-12), 0.35 x 10(-12) and 0.45 x 10(-12) m2 at Kenneth Creek; and 0.41 x 10(-12), 0.54 x 10(-12) and 0.65 x 10(-12) m2 at Sheridan Creek, respectively. Annual fertilization tended to increase leaf specific conductivities and Huber values of the lower branches of trees at both study sites. We conclude that, in trees fertilized annually, the higher flow capacity of lower branches may reduce the availability of water to support annual growth of the leader and upper branches.     

Respiratory potential in sapwood of old versus young ponderosa pine trees in the Pacific Northwest

Our primary objective was to present and test a new technique for in vitro estimation of respiration of cores taken from old trees to determine respiratory trends in sapwood. Our secondary objective was to quantify effects of tree age and stem position on respiratory potential (rate of CO2 production of woody tissue under standardized laboratory conditions). We extracted cores from one to four vertical positions in boles of +200-, +50- and +15-year-old Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. trees. Cores were divided into five segments corresponding to radial depths of inner bark; outer, middle and inner sapwood; and heartwood. Data suggested that core segment CO2 production was an indicator of its respiratory activity, and that potential artifacts caused by wounding and extraction were minimal. On a dry mass basis, respiratory potential of inner bark was 3-15 times greater than that of sapwood at all heights for all ages (P < 0.0001). Within sapwood at all heights and in all ages of trees, outer sapwood had a 30-60% higher respiratory potential than middle or inner sapwood (P < 0.005). Heartwood had only 2-10% of the respiratory potential of outer sapwood. For all ages of trees, sapwood rings produced in the same calendar year released over 50% more CO2 at treetops than at bases (P < 0.0001). When scaled to the whole-tree level on a sapwood volume basis, sapwood of younger trees had higher respiratory potential than sapwood of older trees. In contrast, the trend was reversed when using the outer-bark surface area of stems as a basis for comparing respiratory potential. The differences observed in respiratory potential calculated on a core dry mass, sapwood volume, or outer-bark surface area basis clearly demonstrate that the resulting trends within and among trees are determined by the way in which the data are expressed. Although these data are based on core segments rather than in vivo measurements, we conclude that the relative differences are probably valid even if the absolute differences are not.     

Anatomical differences in the structural elements of fluid passage of Scots pine sapwood with contrasting treatability

Treatability of wood is a function of anatomical properties developed under certain growing conditions. While Scots pine sapwood material normally is considered as easy to impregnate, great variations in treatability can be observed. In order to study anatomical differences in the structural elements of transverse fluid passage, wood material with contrasting treatability has been compared. Ray composition and resin canal network, membrane areas of fenestriform pits in the cross-field as well as dimension and properties of bordered pits were investigated. The results showed large anatomical differences between the two contrasting treatability groups. Refractory Scots pine sapwood samples developed more rays per mm² tangential section, while they were on average lower in cell numbers than rays found in easily treatable material. Easily treatable material had more parenchyma cells in rays than refractory material. At the same time, a larger membrane area in fenestriform pits in the cross-field was observed in the easily treatable sample fraction. Differences in the composition of resin canal network were not observed. Refractory samples developed on average smaller bordered pit features, with relatively small formed pit apertures compared to the easily treatable samples. In refractory Scots pine sapwood material, the structural elements of fluid passage such as bordered pit dimensions, fenestriform pits in the cross-field and parenchyma cells were altogether developed in smaller dimensions or number. Wood samples from better growing conditions and sufficient water supply showed a better treatability in this study.     

Water uptake by scots pine sapwood,and its restriction by the use of water repellents

Summary Water in contact with wood surfaces is able to penetrate into the cellular structure by three routes: 1. As liquid water into cell lumena, by capillarity. — 2. As water vapour, by diffusion into cell lumena. — 3. As bound water, by diffusion within the cell wall.Transport from cell lumena into adjacent cell walls occurs rapidly by diffusion. In Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) sapwood, it is shown that transport over short distances occurs much more rapidly by capillarity than by either of the diffusion processes. Treatment of wood with resin/wax water repellent formulations greatly reduces the rate of water flow due to capillarity and hence significantly cuts down the rate of dimensional change of specimens exposed to wet conditions.Swelling rates due to vapour phase and bound water diffusion were measured experimentally, and these data were used to predict the water sorption rates for specimens treated with a theoretically perfect water repellent, viz. that which excludes all liquid water.It was found experimentally that specimens immersed in water, after treatment with resin/wax water repellents, swelled more rapidly than predicted by the above procedure. This more rapid swelling is probably due to a certain amount of liquid water flow made possible by displacement of the hydrophobic film from cell wall surfaces (preferential wetting). It is suggested that the use of hydrophobic agents bonded chemically to the cell wall may be necessary to attain optimum water repellent effectiveness.     

Within crown variation in the relationship between foliage biomass and sapwood area in jack pine

The relationship between sapwood area and foliage biomass is the basis for a lot of research on eco-phyisology. In this paper, foliage biomass change between two consecutive whorls is studied, using different variations in the pipe model theory. Linear and non-linear mixed-effect models relating foliage differences to sapwood area increments were tested to take into account whorl location, with the best fit statistics supporting the non-linear formulation. The estimated value of the exponent is 0.5130, which is significantly different from 1, the expected value given by the pipe model theory. When applied to crown stem sapwood taper, the model indicates that foliage biomass distribution influences the foliage biomass to sapwood area at crown base ratio. This result is interpreted as being the consequence of differences in the turnover rates of sapwood and foliage. More importantly, the model explains previously reported trends in jack pine sapwood area at crown base to tree foliage biomass ratio.     

Maximum effective lumen and pit pore sizes of the earlywood and the latewood of never dried loblolly pine sapwood

Summary Measurements of the air pressure required to initially displace a saturating liquid and allow a slow continuous stream of air bubbles to pass through wood cross sections of different thickness, together with the equilibrium surface tension of the saturating liquid, make it possible to calculate the maximum effective opening radii. Previous measurements were made for wood as a whole over complete annual rings. Measurements reported here were made separately for earlywood and latewood. Extrapolating plots of the maximum effective opening radius-cross section thickness, for thicknesses below the maximum fiber length, to zero thickness gave maximum lumen radii of 16 m for the earlywood and 10.3 m for the latewood. The values are only slightly greater than the calculated average values. Extrapolating the plots in the opposite direction to zero opening radius gave approximate maximum lumen or fiber lengths for the earlywood of 6 mm and for the latewood of 5 mm. The maximum effective opening radii for cross sections thicker than the maximum fiber length give maximum effective communicating pore radii. These values continue to decrease, with increasing thickness of the cross sections due to the decreasing probability of the largest openings falling in any one series path through the structures. The maximum effective pit pore radius for passage through fifty pits in series was 0.8 m for the earlywood and 0.28 m for the latewood.Paper No. 3787 of the Journal Series of North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Releigh, N. C.     

Effects of moisture content and temperature on acoustic velocity and dynamic MOE of radiata pine sapwood boards

The effects of moisture content from 17 to 159% MC and temperatures from −71°C to +58°C on resonance-based acoustic velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMOE) were investigated using 36 boards of radiata pine sapwood. Acoustic velocity decreased with increasing moisture content and temperature, although effects differed noticeably below and above fibre saturation point (FSP). Below FSP, acoustic velocity decreased rapidly and linearly with increasing moisture; whereas above FSP changes in velocity were rather gradual and curvilinear with marked differences in velocity patterns between temperatures below and above freezing. Acoustic velocity decreased linearly with increasing temperature but there was an abrupt discontinuity at the freezing point for wood above FSP. Changes in moisture content and temperature affecting wood density and acoustic velocity led to changes in DMOE, although this relationship was not straightforward because changes of velocity with moisture were linear or curvilinear and depended on whether wood was frozen or unfrozen, whereas changes of density with moisture content were invariably linear. For practical work, it is important to estimate the relative effect of changing moisture content or temperature with respect to standard conditions on DMOE, thus general guidelines were devised to account for significant changes.     

Durability of thermally modified sapwood and heartwood of Scots pine and Norway spruce in the modified double layer test

In the present study, durability of untreated and thermally modified sapwood and heartwood of Scots pine and Norway spruce was examined using a modified double layer test. Base layer samples were partly on contact with ground where exposure conditions were harder than that in a double layer test above the ground. The base layer on ground contact gave results already after one year of exposure in Finnish climate, but the top layer of a double layer test element simulated more the situation of decking exposure.

Significant differences in durability and moisture content (MC) between the wood materials were detected after six years of exposure in the field. Thermally modified pine heartwood performed very well in all layers of the test element and only minor signs of decay were found in some of the base samples. Both sapwood and heartwood of thermally modified spruce were suffering only slight amounts of decay while thermally modified pine sapwood was slightly or moderately decayed. Untreated sapwood samples of pine and spruce were severely decayed or reached failure rating after six years in the field. Untreated heartwood samples performed clearly better. The highest MCs were measured from untreated and thermally modified pine samples. Thermal modification increased significantly the durability and decreased the MC values of all wood materials.     

Electrical transport of endogenous mineral ions in green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine)

Summary The relative migration of the major endogenous ions (K⁺, Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl^– in green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. was measured in a modified Hittorf transference cell. The transference numbers obtained gave the fractions of the current carried by these ions when an electric field was applied across the wood samples under the conditions used.Potassium and calcium ions were always found to be the main endogenous current carriers, followed by magnesium, sodium and chloride ions. No significant differences in transference number were found between wood stored under refrigeration or in a deep freeze, nor was there any effect on prior -irradiation. Fungal contamination in a few non-irradiated specimens led to lower transference numbers. Changes in moisture content from 86 to 141% produced no significant change but the results did depend on the tree from which the samples had been taken. A decrease in the length of the wood sample from 100 to 50 mm had little effect on the transference numbers of calcium ions but caused a decrease in those of potassium when larger quantities of electricity were passed. Transversely- and longitudinally-oriented wood samples, however, gave very similar results. Visual observation of the anode compartment indicated that the ions followed the path of least resistance between cathode and anode and that the current passed along the grain of the wood.Symbols c_i molar concentration of ion i - F Faraday's constant (96 494 C/mol) - I current - t time - t_i transference number of ion i (also shown as t(i) in tables) - V volume of electrode compartment - Z_i charge number of ion i The authors thank SERC and Rentokil PLC for the award of a CASE Research Studentship to P.J.S. and the Leverhulme Trust for the award of an Emeritus Fellowship to M.S.     

Moisture content-water potential relationship of red pine sapwood above the fiber saturation point and determination of the effective pore size distribution

Summary The pressure membrane and pressure plate techniques were used to establish the moisture content-water potential (M-) relationship of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) sapwood in desorption above the fiber saturation point. The moisture content-water potential relationship is required for the development of a model of drying considering the gradient of water potential as the driving force of moisture in wood. This relationship was established at 18, 56 and 85 °C for radial desorption. The results obtained demonstrate that water potential increases with temperature T at a given moisture content M. There is no significant variation of /T with temperature. Also, there is no plateau at intermediate moisture contents as was the case for the M- relationship of aspen sapwood established in a previous work. The effective integral and differential pore size distributions inferred from the M- relationship are also presented. The largest proportion of effective pore openings was found for a radius of 0.2 m. This value can be related to the pit membrane openings of red pine.This research project is currently supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada under grant no. OGP0121954     

Electrical migration of exogenous mineral ions through green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine)

Summary The electrical migration was studied of several cations passing longitudinally through cylindrical samples of green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. under the influence of an applied electric field. This led to values for the hindered ionic conductances within the wood of the cations Li⁺, K⁺ and CU²⁺ which were compared with data obtained previously (Simons et al., 1998) for several endogenous cations. There was satisfactory agreement for the conductance of the potassium ion, the only one to be determined by both methods. Copper ions were found to possess a higher conductance within the wood than calcium or magnesium, a factor relevant to its use as a wood preservative. Visual observation of the location of the blue-green colouration produced in the wood by copper ions indicated that they migrated via longitudinal resin ducts and tracheids. Elution and transport experiments were also carried out with sapwood which had been flushed with water, Li₂SO₄ or CuSO₄ solution.Symbols E potential gradient - F Faraday's constant (96, 494 C/mol) - I current - L length of wood sample - M molarity (mol/dm³) - Q quantity of electricity - R electrical resistance - S Siemens (reciprocal ohm) - t time - u ionic mobility (velocity under unit potential gradient) - v ionic velocity - z charge number of ion - ionic conductance The authors thank SERC and Rentokil PLC for the award of a CASE Research Studentship to P.J.S. and the Leverhulme Trust for the award of an Emeritus Fellowship to M.S.     

The influence of different soil substrates on the service life of Scots pine sapwood and oak heartwood in ground contact

Abstract

The durability of wood in ground contact is affected by numerous influences, such as substrate quality, climate and microflora of the soil, which need to be considered for the prediction of service life of wooden components to be used in the ground. In this study the influence of different soil substrates on the service life of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) and oak heartwood (Quercus petraea Liebl.) was investigated. Mini-stakes were exposed in six different soils at the test site of the Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products (BFH) in Hamburg, Germany. The effect of partly embedding the test samples in concrete or polyethylene films was also examined. After 3 years of exposure the decay rates for both wood species differed significantly between the soil substrates. Compost soil and fertilized test field soil induced the highest decay activity, whereas in pure sand the lowest decay rates were observed. Surprisingly, exposure in gravel also led to higher decay ratings than sand. Protective measures by means of concrete embedding and polyethylene films performed well during the first 2 years of exposure, but showed increasing decay rates in the third year. The overall decay rating for all soil types was higher for oak heartwood than for pine sapwood. The meaning of different soils, independent of other site influences, for service life prediction of wood is discussed, and the need for further studies on this topic is highlighted.