Effects of fire-retardant treatment and wood grain on three-dimensional changes of sandwich panels made from bubinga decorative veneer

ABSTRACT

The effects of a fire-retardant treatment (FRT) and wood grain on three-dimensional changes of aircraft sandwich panels were evaluated. Unvarnished and varnished panels having the outer decorative layer made with bubinga (Guibourtia spp.) were studied. Half of the samples from each type of panel received an FRT (phosphate-based) on all three layers of the decorative plywood. The other half had the two inner layers treated and the outer layer untreated. Three different figures formed by the rotary cutting and grain orientation were identified and separately studied on veneer surfaces. Samples pre-conditioned to 20°C and 40% relative humidity (RH) underwent an adsorption (25°C, 90% RH) and then a desorption (25°C, 40% RH) treatments. Changes in moisture content (MC), swelling, shrinkage, roughness, and waviness were measured after each moisture exposure condition. The results showed that the FRT increased significantly MC, swelling, and shrinkage of unvarnished and varnished panels. This treatment as well as the type of wood figure affected roughness and waviness variations of unvarnished panels. However, the effects of these two factors were not noticeable once panels were varnished.