Effect of steam pretreatment on wood moisture content and characteristics of vacuum drying

The effects of high temperature steam pretreatment on the change in wood moisture content (MC) and characteristics of vacuum drying were investigated in this study. Poplar and manchurian walnut woods were pretreated with high temperature steam at 100°C and 140°C, prior to vacuum drying. A comparison of the characteristics of vacuum drying between steam pretreated wood and untreated wood was carried out. The results show that during steam pretreatment, the MC of wood decreased within a few hours. The reduction of MC varied with the temperature; the higher the temperature, the faster the MC dropped. During the vacuum drying stage, the rates of drying of pretreated samples were higher than those of untreated samples when MC was below the fiber saturation point. Furthermore, the total drying time of samples treated at a steam temperature of 140°C was lower than that of untreated samples. Therefore, a vacuum procedure after steam pretreatment can effectively shorten the drying time when drying wood.     

Nonisothermal moisture movement in wood

In order to analyze the effect of temperature gradient on moisture movement during highly intensive drying, such as microwave-vacuum drying, the profile of the temperature and moisture content in sealed wood whose opposite faces were subjected to temperature gradient for a short time was measured. The ratio of the moisture content (MC) gradient to the temperature gradient (dM/dT) was calculated and the factors influencing moisture movement under nonisothermal conditions were discussed. The results indicate that moisture moved in wood from the warm surface to the cold one even if opposite faces of the sealed wood assembly were exposed continuously to different but constant temperatures for a short period. The moisture content on the cold surface was higher than that on the warm surface. The moisture content gradient opposite to the temperature gradient was established, and the dM/dT was below 0.9%/°C. The temperature in the sample and the distance from the hot surface of the sample was strongly linearly correlated. With an increase in temperature, initial moisture content and experimental time, the dM/dT was significantly increased. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2005, 27(2): 96–100 [译自: 北京林业大学学报, 2005, 27(2): 96–100]     

Real-time wood moisture-content determination using dual-energy X-ray computed tomography scanning

ABSTRACT

The estimation of the pixel-wise distribution of the moisture content (MC) in wood using X-ray computed tomography (CT) requires two scans of the same wood specimen at different MCs, one of which is known. Image-processing algorithms are needed to compensate for the anisotropic distortion that wood undergoes as it dries. An alternative technique based on dual-energy CT (DECT) to determine MC in wood has been suggested by several authors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that DECT can be used for the determination of MC in real time. A method based on the use of the quotient between the linear attenuation coefficients (μ) at different acceleration voltages (the so-called quotient method) was used. A statistical model was created to estimate the MC in solid sapwood of Scots pine, Norway spruce and brittle willow. The results show a regression model with R²?>?0.97 that can predict the MC in these species with a RMSE of prediction of 0.07, 0.04 and 0.11 (MC in decimal format) respectively and at MC levels ranging from the green to the totally dry condition. Individual measurements of MC show an uncertainty of up to ±0.4. It is concluded that under the conditions prevailing in this study, and in studies referred to in this paper, it is not possible to measure MC with DECT.     

Hygroexpansion of wood during moisture adsorption and desorption processes

In order to investigate the shrinking and swelling behavior of wood at a non-equilibrium state, the moisture sorptlon processes of wood under constant and changing conditions were studied. For the static sorption experiment, Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata） specimens were subjected to the adsorption processes at 25℃, 10 different relative humidity environments and the moisture contents were measured at distinct time intervals of adsorption processes. For the dynamic sorption experiment, the specimens were exposed to periodically and linearly varying relative humidity between 45% and 75% at 25℃. Moisture content as well as radial and tangential dimensional changes in response to the changing relative humidity were measured. The main results from the experiments indicated that： the moisture sorption isotherms of Chinese fir at equilibrium state and different stages of adsorption processes could be characterized by S-shape curves. From the non-equilibrium state to the equilibrium state, the sigmoid moisture sorption isotherms changed from smooth, gradually increasing values to a steep rise at 100% humidity. Furthermore, under dynamic conditions with a constant temperature and a linearly and periodically varying relative humidity, the moisture content as well as radial and tangential dimensional changes of the specimens generally waved but lagged behind the relative humidity change.     

The effect of girdling on the moisture content of small-sized trees

In this study, the effect of girdling on the moisture content of small-sized trees for heat energy production was clarified. The moisture content was measured for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and Downy birch (Betula pubescens) during two growing seasons after girdling. The trees were girdled at breast height for around 30 cm by removing the bark, phloem, and cambium from around the stem. At the beginning of the growing season the mean moisture content of the living Scots pine (P. sylvestris) and Norway spruce (P. abies) was 60%, and for Downy birch (B. pubescens) it was 50%. During the first growing season the effect of girdling on the moisture content was low, but during the second growing season the moisture content decreased significantly. The moisture content of the Norway spruce (P. abies) (23%) and Downy birch (B. pubescens) (33%) was at its lowest point at 14 months after girdling. There were no significant changes in the moisture content of the Scots pine (P. sylvestris) in this study. The results of this study can be used in basic research and in the development of energy wood production.     

New monitoring concept of moisture content distribution in wood during RF/vacuum drying

A new method for monitoring moisture content during radio-frequency (RF)/vacuum drying was developed by measurement of temperature and pressure in wood. Temperature and pressure inside the wood were measured simultaneously during RF/vacuum drying at the same point. The relative humidity (RH) and moisture content (MC) below the fiber saturation point (FSP) were calculated based on temperature and pressure, and the relationship between the temperature, RH, and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) at the measurement point. When the moisture content was below the FSP, the calculated MC was slightly greater than the value given by oven drying. The absolute error was within 0.8% near the open cross side, and was within 1.8% at another measurement point. Thus, we concluded that it was practicable to monitor the moisture content below the FSP according to the temperature and pressure inside the wood. Part of this study was presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Chugoku Shikoku Branch of the Japan Wood Research Society, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan, September 2003     

温度及水分状态对美国红松弯曲弹性模量的影响

应用温度控制系统,对美国红松小试样规格材进行测试,检验木材温度及水分状态对木材弯曲弹性模量的影响.结果表明:温度对木材的抗弯性能具有显著影响,随着温度的升高,木材的抗弯性能逐渐减弱;相同承载条件下,含水率越高,冻结木材的抗弯曲性能越强.对于纤维饱和材,冰点以下其弹性模量随着温度的降低而迅速增加,在冰点以上则增加缓慢;对于非纤维饱和材,其弹性模量受温度影响变化幅度在冰点两侧区别不明显.冻结木材弹性模量相对于常温(20℃)情况下(相对弹性模量)受温度和含水率变化的影响十分显著,而非冻结木材的相对弹性模量对温度变化均表现不敏感.通过建立的相对弹性模量-温度试验模型,能较好地预测不同温度及含水率下的木材弯曲弹性模量相对于常温的变化幅度.该研究为不同温度条件下尤其是低温时的木材弹性模量测量结果修正提供了试验依据.     

Nondestructive testing method of wood moisture content based on a planar capacitance sensor model

For our research, a new hybrid experimental-computational method is presented. We applied a least squares fitting     

Theory to estimate the stress due to moisture in wood using a transmission-type microwave moisture meter

 In recent years a microwave transmission-type moisture meter has been developed in Japan. Its purpose is to measure the average moisture content of thick woods. Since its development I have realized that there is a negative correlation between the moisture content of wood and the power voltage of the meter. This realization suggests that an invisible stress has an effect on the attenuation constant of the wood. The presence of such a stress in the wood could easily be proven by the slicing technique. In this article a theory is presented to explain further the effect of this stress on the attenuation constant. The theory was applied to softwood specimens in various states of moisture. It was concluded that the calculated strain distributions of the various specimens approximated those of the experimental results. Thus, the proposed theory presented herein has validity or adaptability with regard to qualitatively understanding the stress. Future research efforts would also be expected to detect the stress in wood due to moisture. Received: November 30, 2001 / Accepted: March 18, 2002 Acknowledgments The author thanks Mr. K. Hayashida and Mr. T. Taniguchi (former students of Fukui University of Technology) for their assistance in the experiment. The author also thanks Dr. Okada of the Kawasaki Kiko Co. and Prof. Dr. Sobue of Shizuoka University for their valuable discussions and suggestions. Part of this report was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Central District of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, September 2000 Correspondence to:T. Takemura     

Corrosion of metal fasteners embedded in acetylated and untreated wood at different moisture contents

ABSTRACT

Acetylated wood is now commercially available and designed to be used in certain outdoor applications as an alternative to preservative-treated wood. Fastener corrosion can be a concern in preservative treated wood when the wood remains wet for long periods. However, little data on the corrosiveness of acetylated wood exists beyond the product literature. Here we examine the corrosiveness of commercially obtained acetylated wood and compare it against unmodified (untreated) southern pine (Pinus spp.). Corrosion rates of plain carbon steel, hot dip galvanized steel, and stainless steel were calculated gravimetrically after a one year exposed in the wood. Four different moisture conditions were examined: 90% relative humidity (RH), 95% RH, 100% RH, and a fully water saturated condition. When compared to literature data on the corrosion of fasteners in preservative treated wood at 100% RH, the acetylated wood had much lower steel corrosion rates than all preservatives examined; the measured corrosion rates for galvanized steel were lower than all preservatives except chromated copper arsenate. These measured corrosion rates across a range of moisture conditions can be used to inform the selection of appropriate corrosion resistant fasteners when building with acetylated wood.     

干燥过程中木材内部含水率检测的X射线扫描方法

以红橡和黑胡桃木材为研究对象,采用X射线扫描方法测量常规热风干燥过程中木材厚度方向含水率分布和平均含水率的可行性。结果表明:采用X射线扫描无损检测方法可以实现干燥过程中同一木材试件含水率分布和平均含水率的动态检测;与称重法含水率测量值相比,在8%～68%的较宽含水率范围内,不论是在高含水率阶段还是在低含水率阶段,采用X射线扫描法测量木材含水率时,都具有较高的测量精度,测量值偏差最大不超过3%;在热风干燥过程中,所有试件含水率的称重法测定值与X射线扫描法测定值之间相关系数的平方都在0.97以上;X射线扫描方法具有扫描速度快、设备费用较低、测量精度高的特点,为木材含水率的动态检测提供了一种很好的技术手段。     

Orthotropic hygric and mechanical material properties of oak wood

The present study examines the three-dimensional hygric and mechanical behavior of oak wood. The moisture equilibrium state, characterized by the sorption isotherms, was obtained from measurements taken during adsorption and desorption cycles. Sorption behavior was analyzed with the Dent theory and compared considering the sorption direction (adsorption/desorption cycle). Sorption parameters were provided for possible numerical applications in hygric material models. The corresponding swelling and shrinkage behavior was examined and characterized by the moisture expansion parameters for all anatomical directions. Orthotropic mechanical material behavior was characterized by determining the elastic engineering (Young's moduli, shear moduli, and Poisson's ratios) and the bending, compressive and compressive shear strength material parameters. Influence of moisture content (MC) on the mechanical material properties was studied using Young's moduli, Poisson's ratios, and the investigated strength parameters. A significant difference between the sorption behavior in adsorption and desorption, known as the hysteresis effect, could be proved. Furthermore, swelling and shrinkage behavior did not show any dependency on the adsorption/desorption cycle. The results confirm the significant influence of MC on the Young's moduli and the strength properties, however, did not validate an influence on the Poisson's ratios.     

Changes in the mechanical properties of wood during a period of moisture conditioning

Changes in the modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and stress relaxation in the radial direction of wood (hinoki:Chamaecyparis obtusa) moisture-conditioned by the adsorption process from a dry state and by the desorption process from a moisture content slightly below the fiber saturation point were investigated. The MOE and MOR of wood conditioned by the adsorption process showed significant increases during the later stages of conditioning when the moisture content scarcely changed. However, with the desorption process they did not increase as much during later stages of conditioning, though they increased during early stages of conditioning when the moisture content greatly decreased. The stress relaxation of wood decreased with an increase in the conditioning period with both the adsorption and desorption processes. These results suggest that wood in an unstable state, caused by the existing state of moisture differed from that in a true equilibrium state shows lower elasticity and strength and higher fluidity than wood in a true equilibrium state. Furthermore, the present study demonstrates that the unstable states of wood induced during the course of drying, desorption, and possibly adsorption of moisture are slowly modified as wood approaches a true equilibrium state.     

木材含水率测定方法的比较研究

为修订国家标准“CB1931—80木材含水率测定方法”提供依据,本文对含树脂和挥发性物质较多的马尾松等5种木材,采用烘干法、真空干燥法和蒸馏法进行含水率测定的比较。结果表明,烘干法简便实用,但所测得的含水率结果比真空干燥法和蒸馏法为高,如果试样含有较多的挥发性物质,应用烘干法测定含水率误差偏大时,可采用真空干燥法。     

Vibrational properties of heat-treated green wood

To investigate the influence of water on heat treatment, green wood was heat-treated. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) with about 60% moisture content (MC) was used. Young's modulus and loss tangent were measured by the free-free flexural vibration test. The specimens were heated in nitrogen at 160°C for 0.5h. The results were as follows. (1) Recognizing that the effects of heat treatment are mild and that the same specimens cannot be used for both heat treatment and as controls, it was necessary to investigate the effects of the heat treatment based on the variations of properties in the whole of the test lumber. (2) Young's modulus increased and the loss tangent decreased due to heat treatment. When the vibrational properties were measured at various MCs, the MCs at the maximum value of Young's modulus and the minimum value of the loss tangent were lower in heat-treated specimens than in controls. The effects of heat treatment in green wood were similar to those in air-dried wood. (3) The loss tangents of heat-treated specimens were smaller than those of controls at about 0% MC but were larger than those of controls at about 10% MC. We thought that this resulted from the decreased MC at the minimum loss tangent after the heat treatment mentioned above. (4) The properties measured at several MCs were more useful than those at only one moisture content for investigating the effects of heat treatment.This study was presented in part at the 46th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kumamoto, April 3–5, 1996; and at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 3–5, 1997     

Causes of color changes in wood during drying

The forest industry operates in a dynamic and global market where change and competition are the rule rather than the     

Bending creep behavior of hot-pressed wood under cyclic moisture change conditions

This study examined the bending creep behavior of hot-pressed wood during cyclic moisture changes. Sugi (Cryptomerica japonica D. Don) specimens were pressed in the radial direction under six combinations of nominal compressive strain (33% and 50%) and press temperatures (140°C, 170°C, 200°C). Creep tests were conducted at 20°C with three cyclic relative humidity changes between 65% and 95% under 25% of short-breaking stress. The effect of moisture content (MC) change on elastic compliance and mechanosorptive (MS) compliance was investigated. The relation between MS compliance and thickness swelling was studied. The results indicated that total compliance increased over the history of cyclic moisture changes; and its behavior was closely related to the changes in MC and thickness swelling. The total compliance increased during adsorption and decreased during desorption. Elastic compliance increased linearly with MC and was dependent on press temperature and compression. With increasing MC change, MS compliance increased during adsorption and decreased during desorption. The first adsorption led to greater MS compliance than did the subsequent adsorption with the same amount of MC change. In general, the elastic parameterK _E and the MS parameterK _Mincreased with compression and decreased as the press temperature increased. The MS parameterK _M was apparently greater than the elastic parameterK _E. The MS parameterK _M increased with swelling coefficient K_SW of the hot-pressed specimen during adsorption and decreased with an increasing shrinkage coefficientK _SH during desorption.     

STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF WOOD MOISTURE CONTENT ON PERMEABILITY IN THE HYGROSCOPIC RANGE

Woodpermeabilityhascloserrelationshipwiththemanyfiledsofwoodworkingandusing,woodfluidpermeabi1-ityisrelatedtoinprocessingsuchaswooddrying;fireretartenttreatmen;pup1ingandpaper;woodpreservation.Theflowoffluidinwoodincludestwokindsoftransportprocess.Oneispenetrationfromwoodoutsidetoinside,suchas'woodpreservationandfireretartenttreatment,anotherisdiffusionfromwoodinsidetooutside'suchaswooddrying,Infact,woodpermeabilityinfulenceddirectlythequalityofwoodwaterheattreatment,Forthisreasontheresearchin…     

Micromorphology,moisture sorption and mechanical properties of a biocomposite based on acetylated wood particles and cellulose ester

Abstract

One of the major issues in a long-term perspective for the use of wood–plastic composites (WPCs) in outdoor applications is the moisture sensitivity of the wood component and the consequent dimensional instability and susceptibility to biological degradation of the composite. In this work, the effects of using an acetylated wood component and a cellulose ester as matrix on the micromorphology, mechanical performance and moisture uptake of injection-moulded WPCs have been studied. Composites based on unmodified and acetylated wood particles, specially designed with a length-to-width ratio of about 5–7, combined with both cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and polypropylene (PP) matrices were studied. The size and shape of the wood particles were studied before and after the processing using light microscopy, and the micromorphology of the composites was studied using a newly developed surface preparation technique based on ultraviolet laser irradiation combined with low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM). The water vapour sorption in the composites and the effect of accelerated weathering were measured using thin samples which were allowed to reach equilibrium moisture content (EMC). The length-to-diameter ratio was only slightly decreased for the acetylated particles after compounding and injection moulding, although both the unmodified and the acetylated particles were smaller in size after the processing steps. The tensile strength was about 40% higher for the composite based on acetylated wood than for the composite with unmodified wood using either CAP or PP as matrix, whereas the notched impact strength of the composite based on acetylated wood was about 20% lower than those of the corresponding unmodified composites. The sorption experiments showed that the EMC was 50% lower in the composites with an acetylated wood component than in the composites with an unmodified wood component. The choice of matrix material strongly affected the moisture absorptivity of the WPC. The composites with CAP as matrix gained moisture more rapidly than the composites with PP as matrix. It was also found that accelerated ageing in a Weather-Ometer® significantly increased the moisture sensitivity of the PP-based composites.