Dimensional stabilization of wood treated with furfuryl alcohol catalysed by borates

Furfuryl alcohol has a sufficiently small molecular size, which allows impregnation into wood and can be polymerized in the cell walls. Polymerization can be accomplished using a catalyst, heat or penetrating radiation. This research illustrates a natural wood polymer composite (NWPC) that was obtained under the catalytic effect of borates. Furfuryl alcohol (FA) and borates were mixed at different ratios before treatment. When borates alone are used, they were totally leached from wood after cyclic leaching periods. However, this was not encountered with the mixture of furfuryl alcohol and borates. Furfuryl alcohol considerably improved antiswelling efficiency by about 85% for both Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) wood specimens. Results of the leaching tests of borate indicated that boric acid readily lost its boron content in the early cycles of the leaching periods and the highest leaching rate of boron was observed at the first leaching cycle (512 ppm). When furfuryl alcohol mixed with borates, boron was released to the leaching water at slower amounts, suggesting the possibility of longer protection of treated wood in service.     

Influence of temperature and time upon pyrolysis of untreated and fire retardant treated wood

Summary Untreated and fire-retardant treated specimens of Douglas-fir were pyrolyzed up to 30 minutes at temperatures of 250°, 350° and 550° C. Various cell wall components viewed under the scanning electron microscope appeared to decompose at rates related to their chemical composition. No structural differences were noted between pyrolyzed specimens of untreated wood and wood treated with a mixture of zinc chloride and sodium dichromate. Cell walls of specimens treated with a mixture of urea, monammonium phosphate, and glucose exhibited thermoplastic behavior as a result of exposure to high temperatures.     

Study of the release in water of chemicals used for wood preservation. Effect of wood dimensions

Summary Various chemicals are used for protecting wood samples against fungi, and some of them are released in water, leading to pollution of the water. The kinetics of pentachlorophenol release in water has here been studied by considering the diffusion through the wood along the three principal axes of diffusion. The experiments and the modelling of the process is successfully coupled. The numerical model takes into account the three principal diffusivities, the partition factor, the volumes of wood and water. The effect of wood sample length along the longitudinal axis of diffusion is studied especially, as longitudinal diffusivity is much higher than the other two principal diffusivities. The effects of the relative volumes of wood and water are also of considerable interest not only for the concentration of the chemical in water but also for the rate of release.Symbols C concentration of liquid (g/cm³)_ - C _c ,C _eq concentration of liquid on the surface, at equilibrium with the surrounding, respectively - C _i,j,k concentration of liquid in the wood at positioni, j, k - D diffusivity (cm²/s) - h coefficient of mass transfer on the surface (cm/s) - K partition factor - i, j, k integers characterizing the position in the wood - M _L ,M _R ,M _T dimensionless numbers - M _t ,M amount of chemical released after time t, after infinite time, respectively - t increment of time - L, R, T thickness of the slices taken in the wood for calculation - N _L ,N _R ,N _T number of slices taken in the wood - x, y, z coordinates - V _water volume of the surrounding water     

阻燃处理木材的热分析

为研究阻燃处理对木材热解过程的影响,将未处理的和经过阻燃处理的木材进行热分析(包括TG、DTG、DSC),其结果表明:阻燃处理可改变木材发生剧烈热分解时的温度和重量损失速率,并使400℃时的残留物重量明显增加,在20～450℃范围内,未处理木材的DSC图谱有三个峰,相应于三个不同的热解阶段;不同阻燃剂的加入可明显地改变DSC图谱的峰形和峰位,即改变了木材的燃烧性能。此外本文还结合实验结果,对阻燃剂的作用机理提出了初步解释。     

Treatment of fir wood with chitosan and polyethylene glycol

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer, derived from chitin, which is used for wood modification. Polyethylene glycol(PEG) was reacted with wood to provide possible fixation of the chitosan to wood. Wood blocks were treated with chitosan and PEG, as well as pre-treatment with the PEG at different temperatures and further reaction with the chitosan. The samples were soaked in water to study leaching of the chemicals, water absorption, swelling, as well as anti-swelling efficiency. Any prior reaction of the wood with PEG provided better reaction to the chitosan.Bulking was increased after the treatment of the wood with PEG. Swelling was reduced in the PEG-treated wood blocks as well as the pre-treated samples. Chitosan was not able to protect wood against water penetration: the treated samples showed more water absorption and swelling.However, pre-treatment of the samples decreased swelling in the wood, and the density was not noticeably affected by the treatments. Heating during the treatment caused more reduction in swelling for PEG–chitosan treated samples.     

油松株内幼龄材与成熟材材性的比较研究

本文就中条山油松株内幼龄材与成熟材材性差异的比较研究,讨论对幼龄期划分的依据。根据木材解剖特征、物理力学性质的径向变异规律,确定其幼龄期为14年。随着树干高度的增加,油松木材幼龄期逐渐缩短、株内幼龄材范围及所占断面上的比例变小。株内幼龄材与成熟材材性差异显著。幼龄材管胞长度短、直径小,胞壁薄,微纤丝角度大,生长轮较宽,晚材率低,浸提物含量高,基本密度较大。幼龄材的力学强度远远小于成熟材。     

Dimensional stability of wood acetylated with acetic anhydride solution of glucose pentaacetate

Five wood species were acetylated with acetic anhydride (AA) solution of glucose pentaacetate (GPA) at 120°C for 8h, and the effect of GPA on the dimensional stability of the acetylated wood was investigated. Some GPA was introduced into the wood cell wall during acetylation. The GPA remaining in the cell lumen penetrated the cell wall effectively after heating to more than 140°C for 10min. The bulking effects of GPA resulted in a 10%–30% increase in the anti-swelling efficiency of the acetylated wood with 20% GPA/AA solution in place of AA. Hydrophobic GPA did not deliquesce under highly humid conditions and it remained in the cell wall after boiling in water.Part of this paper was presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1988     

Impregnation and mechanical properties of three softwoods treated with a new fire retardant chemical

Three softwoods, Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica), Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis) and Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa), were vacuum–pressure impregnated with a fire retardant chemical consisting of ammonium phosphate polymer (APP), guanyl urea phosphate (GUP), phosphonic acid and a minor amount of additives. The variation in impregnation between and within wood species was investigated. A significant relationship and similar trends were found between fire retardant chemical (FR) uptake and specific gravity (SG), as well as void volume filled (VVF) and SG. Moreover, the effects of fire retardant treatment on mechanical properties, including modulus of rupture (MOR), static modulus of elasticity (MOE) and dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMOE), were evaluated. The results indicated that the trend of impregnation and regression function varied between species and positions within the same species. However, the relationship of SG and chemical uptake and that of VVF and chemical uptake could be represented by a positive linear regression, and the trends were similar between wood species. Both of SG and VVF increased with increasing FR uptake. After fire retardant treatment, the MOR and static MOE were reduced compared with before treatment. Conversely, the DMOE increased after treatment.     

Surface free energy and dynamic wettability of wood simultaneously treated with acidic dye and flame retardant

The use of multifunctional wood for decorative purpose has grown increasingly popular in recent years. In this study, fast-growing poplar wood was treated with dye (0.5%) and flame retardant (0, 10, 20, and 30%) simultaneously to enhance its visual characteristic and safety. The dynamic wettability and surface free energy of wood samples were studied using S-D wetting model and van Oss–Chaudhury–Good (vOCG) method, respectively. Dye uptake, drug load, color difference, and combustion performance were determined. The treated wood was also characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results indicated that the proposed treatment yields favorable adhesive spreading and penetration ability at the wood surface. The surface free energy of treated wood was higher than that of untreated wood, and the dye uptake, drug load, color difference, and limited oxygen index all increased after the proposed combination treatment compared to dye-only treated wood. The results also indicated that the flame retardant reacted chemically with the wood as the dye and flame retardant molecules diffused into the cell cavity, wood vessel, and aperture.     

广州以水灭火的成功实践

文章根据广州市600例火灾资料,总结出以水灭火是其最有效的灭火方式,还对防火队伍、设备、演练及联防等保障机制建设作了全面介绍。       

Dynamic water vapour sorption properties of wood treated with glutaraldehyde

The dynamic water vapour sorption properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood samples were studied to investigate the modifying effects of glutaraldehyde. Pine sapwood was treated with solutions of glutaraldehyde and a catalyst (magnesium chloride) to obtain weight per cent gains of 0.5, 8.6, 15.5, and 21.0%, respectively. The sorption behaviour of untreated and treated wood was measured using a Dynamic Vapour Sorption apparatus. The results showed considerable reduction in equilibrium moisture content of wood and the corresponding equilibrium time at each target relative humidity (RH) due to glutaraldehyde treatment. The moisture adsorption and desorption rates of modified and unmodified wood were generally faster in the low RH range (up to approximate 20%) than in the high range. Modification primarily reduced the adsorption and desorption rates over the high RH range of 20–95%. Glutaraldehyde modification resulted in a reduction in sorption hysteresis due to the loss of elasticity of cell walls.     

Vapor phase reaction of wood with maleic anhydride (II): mechanism of dimensional stabilization

The vapor phase reaction of wood with maleic anhydride (MA) was investigated from the aspect of the mechanism of dimensional stabilization. Notably the existence of cross-links was examined by detailed analyses of dimensional stability and related properties, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra, and changes in mechanical properties such as creep property and vibrational property. Higher reaction temperature resulted in less leaching of reagent. Also a peak in DRIFT spectra at 1730 cm⁻¹ showed the esterification of wood components with MA, while that at around 1780 cm⁻¹, which became remarkable with increasing reaction temperature, suggested the formation of cross-linking. The loss tangent decreased and the creep deformation was restrained for the specimens treated at high temperature. From these results it is plausible that MA mainly forms monoester with wood components at lower temperature; however, at elevated temperature cross-linking appears in addition to formation of the monoester.     

The sorption of water vapour of wood treated with a nanotechnology compound

The potential of improving the hygroscopicity of solid wood by applying a new nanotechnology compound was investigated. The sorption isotherms were analysed using the Hailwood–Horrobin model. The experimental analysis of the sorption isotherms showed that the treatment affected total, polymolecular and monomolecular sorption. The application of the compound reduced the total sorption by 26.5%, polymolecular sorption by 23.9% and monomolecular sorption by 33.1% at saturation.     

永久性贮水池在水灭火法扑救森林火灾中的运用

本文简要阐述了水灭火法灭火原理与系统组成,提出通过建立永久性贮水池促进水灭火法将成为我国林火扑救重要手段的发展设想。     

Effect of growing site,sampling date,wood location in trunk and drying method on concentration of soluble proanthocyanidins in Betula pendula wood,with special reference to wood colour

Proanthocyanidins (PAs), which are common phenolic compounds in plants, are considered to be mainly defensive compounds against different kinds of stress, e.g. herbivory. In addition to increasing after stress, they may condense and/or oxidize to form coloured compounds when cells die, which may affect both the resistance of xylem to rot and its colour. This is important in the mechanical wood industry. The effects of some biological factors (growing site, sampling date, wood location in the trunk) on the concentration of soluble PAs (sPAs) were studied in fresh and dried birch wood. Those factors that affected sPA concentration most were sampling date and radial location. Drying method also had a great effect on the sPA concentration, which in turn correlated with the colour of the wood.     

Stem water transport of Lithocarpus edulis, an evergreen oak with radial-porous wood

The stem water conducting system of an evergreen broad-leaved oak, Lithocarpus edulis (Mak.) Nakai, was investigated. Evergreen broad-leaved oaks (Lithocarpus, Castanopsis, Cyclobalanopsis, Quercus) belonging to the Quercoideae are a major component of Asian monsoon forests, and are characterized by the possession of radial-porous wood. A characteristic of radial-porous wood is the development of aggregate rays between radially oriented files of vessels. We measured the distribution of vessel lumen diameters in a stem cross section and calculated the theoretical water conductivity of the wood. The radial profile of the heat pulse velocity (HPV) was measured for an intact whole tree under field conditions and compared with the theoretical distribution of water conductivity. Soft X-ray photographs of frozen stem sections indicated that most of the vessel lumina were filled with water, including those of vessels more than 20 years old. Even when vessels were relatively wide (lumen diameters > 100 microm), cavitation was negligible. The rate of water uptake from the cut stem base correlated closely with HPV (r = 0.96), and HPV closely reflected the mean volume flow per stem sectional area (SFVS) around the sensor probes. However, the ray tissue sharply inhibited heat transfer, and the positioning of the probes strongly affected the absolute value of HPV. It was also found that HPV more closely reflected the mean sap flow velocity in the vessels than did SFVS.     

Treatment of timber with water soluble dimethylol resins to improve their dimensional stability and durability

Summary European Beech (Fagus silvatica L.) was impregnated with a dimethylol resin to improve its dimensional stability and durability. Different catalysts were evaluated in combination with the resin. Depending on the range of relative humidity, the resin improved the shrinkage and swelling by approximately 50%. The use of an acid (citric or tartaric) catalyst lead to improved resin curing. A curing temperature of 100 °C is necessary.The reported work has been part of an EEC Research Program (DGXII) and had been carried out by the author at TNO Timber Research Institute     

Decay resistance of sapwood and heartwood of untreated and thermally modified Scots pine and Norway spruce compared with some other wood species

Abstract

Thermal modification has been developed for an industrial method to increase the biological durability and dimensional stability of wood. In this study the effects of thermal modification on resistance against soft- and brown-rot fungi of sapwood and heartwood of Scots pine and Norway spruce were investigated using laboratory test methods. Natural durability against soft-rot microfungi was determined according to CEN/TS 15083-2 (2005) by measuring the mass loss and modulus of elasticity (MOE) loss after an incubation period of 32 weeks. An agar block test was used to determine the resistance to two brown-rot fungi using two exposure periods. In particular, the effect of the temperature of the thermal modification was studied, and the results were compared with results from untreated pine and spruce samples. The decay resistance of reference untreated wood species (Siberian larch, bangkirai, merbau and western red cedar) was also studied in the soft-rot test. On average, the soft-rot and brown-rot tests gave quite similar results. In general, the untreated heartwood of pine was more resistant to decay than the sapwood of pine and the sapwood and heartwood of spruce. Thermal modification increased the biological durability of all samples. The effect of thermal modification seemed to be most effective within pine heartwood. However, very high thermal modification temperature over 230°C was needed to reach resistance against decay comparable with the durability classes of “durable” or “very durable” in the soft-rot test. The brown-rot test gave slightly better durability classes than the soft-rot test. The most durable untreated wood species was merbau, the durability of which could be evaluated as equal to the durability class “moderately durable”.