Wood drying is the most time- and energy-consuming process in the wood industry. Without proper optimization of the drying process, an attempt to reduce drying time and energy by accelerating the drying rate might easily result in the creation of various defects within the kiln-dried lumber. To overcome this susceptibility, the drying and anatomical characteristics of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica)

This paper investigates the strength properties of circular laminated veneer lumber hollow sections made of beech wood and loaded in tension. These tubular, hollow wooden poles are intended for an innovative geotechnical approach, which utilizes the high tensile strength of beech wood and its limited durability as soil nails for temporary geotechnical slope stabilisation. Due to the standardized design

The aim of this study was to determine the cutting force and specific cutting resistance of modified beech wood (Bendywood, DMDHEU and Lignamon) and, based on experimental results, to calculate the fracture parameters for cutting in axial–perpendicular direction of these modified materials and to compare with native beech wood. In the conventional approaches, cutting force and cutting power in sawing

The objective of this study was to assess the wood properties and drying characteristics of sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima Carruth.) to determine the potential for the extension of its use in South Korea. The annual rings, latewood ratio, dimensions of the vessels, density, and shrinkage of specimens manufactured from five sawtooth oak trees were measured and compared by age class. The drying rate

In this study, a natural flavonoid, chrysin, was used as a wood impregnation agent and evaluated in terms of artificial weathering and decay resistance of wood. For this purpose, Scots pine samples were impregnated with chrysin after tosylation pre-treatment and, then, exposed to artificial weathering for 672 h. Color, surface roughness, contact angle and macroscopic changes were recorded during the

Polyvinyl chloride overlaid veneered plywood (PVC-VP), melamine-impregnated paper overlaid veneered plywood (MI-VP) and unfinished plywood (UF-P) were used as the experimental materials to explore the emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and different VOC components from plywood under different loading factors. A 15L small chamber and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer were

Mozambique’s large pool of tropical hardwoods is hampered by the prevalence of low-grade tree species along with a lack of cost-effective processing technologies to improve timber properties. Brachystegia spiciformis and Julbernadia globiflora are the most abundant tree species in terms of volume in the country, but with limited use due to their low timber quality. In this study, thermal modification

The growing demand for engineered wood products in the construction sector has resulted in the diversification of the product offer. Used marginally in structural products in North America, northern hardwoods are now attracting a growing interest from industry and policy makers because of their outstanding strength as well as their high availability and distinctive appearance. Currently, there is no

Samples of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) were used for this study. Logs of these samples covered a scatter of mild-to-strong curvatures and the boards of these samples covered strong fiber deviations. This study consists of two separate parts: (1) log reconstruction and optimization of the cutting pattern, and (2) board reconstruction and strength prediction. Information about the internal quality

The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural performance of finger-joints made of Uruguayan Eucalyptus grandis and two types of adhesives. A numerical model for bending strength and stiffness prediction was developed. Model inputs were experimentally determined from tests on wooden specimens and from the literature. Finger-joints glued with two types of adhesives (one-component polyurethane

Due to its average mechanical properties, poplar, a fast-growing species, has been disfavored compared to stronger species for several decades. Wood-based products may help changing that perspective and thus, poplar has been gaining its market share for structural uses. A state-of-the-art review concerning the use of poplar to produce glued laminated products, with special focus on the use of Portuguese

Knowledge of annual ring width and location of pith in relation to board cross-sections, and how these properties vary in the longitudinal direction of boards, is relevant for many purposes, such as assessment of shape mechanical properties and stability of sawn timber. Hence, the present research aims at developing a novel method and an algorithm, based on data obtained from optical surface scanning

Large research work is currently being performed concerning different elaborated new wood protection methods. However, combining industrially well-approbated processes is also considered potentially quite promising and such approach is being actively studied. The objective of the present study was to investigate peculiarities of interaction between liquids and thermally modified (TM) birch wood (Betula

In this study, the use of a new system made of natural wood absorbers (Salix viminalis) is proposed as a tool to protect plants, groundwater and soil from the adverse effects of de-icing salt. The toxic effects of road de-icing salt on soils, groundwater and plant growth have concerned environmental scientists, especially ecologists, for decades and have already been the subject of many studies. In

Portuguese forests are mainly composed of hardwoods, which represent 69% of the forest area in 2010, being Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) the most abundant species (26%). The suitability of Blue gum for structural applications was demonstrated in previous studies. However, the most common uses are still related to the pulp and paper industry as well as energy production, mainly due to sawing

Creep deformation is a general problem for large wooden structures, and in particular for shipwrecks in museums. In this study, experimental creep data on the wooden cubic samples from the Vasa ship have been analysed to confirm the linearity of the viscoelastic response in the directions where creep was detectable (T and R directions). Isochronous stress–strain curves were derived for relevant uniaxial

In this study, the relatively new picture frame method applied to wood is compared with three established shear test methods, namely the experimental modal analysis, the square plate twist method and the torsion test. For the investigations, the wood species European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) were used and the shear tests were conducted in LR and RL direction. The

In this paper, absolute and density normalized cutting model parameters of natural and impregnated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) are shown and a method for the calculation of their corresponding material properties in the principal material directions of wood is presented. The parameters were determined from measurements of cutting power on a sash gang saw, and are in detail the fracture toughness

The experimental basis for testing the biological durability of wood often includes incubation experiments with wood-destroying basidiomycetes. Numerous parameters can affect the mass loss by fungal decay (MLF) in laboratory durability tests and therefore being decisive for the resulting durability classification. Among others, the dimension of the wood specimen and the time of incubation impact on

In Hungary, large stocks of plantation poplar reached their cutting age. The present paper is a part-time report of the OTKA project on the wettability of Pannónia poplar samples originating from two Hungarian plantations: Győr and Solt. The main question was whether the different sites of origin have a significant influence on the properties of the boards. Samples from the two plantation sites were

The plywood consumption in various applications is increasing, especially in construction. In service, plywood can be exposed to a range of outdoor conditions, sometimes at elevated temperatures. This requires an understanding of the structural behavior and knowledge of the effects of the elevated temperatures on the properties of plywood. Therefore, the objective of this research was to study the

Atmospheric plasma was utilized to modify linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) film. On that basis, formaldehyde emission (FE)-free plywood was prepared using plasma-treated LLDPE film as the adhesive. Obtained results suggested that atmospheric plasma treatment leads to grafting of multiple oxygen-containing groups, thus evidently elevating the surficial polarity of LLDPE. Enhanced interaction

Wood-based materials are generally prone to colonization by mould fungi and other discoloring microorganisms, but their resistance to fungal discoloration varies. Different standardized test methods for determining the susceptibility to mould fungi have been used to evaluate various wood-based materials, but the obtained results suggest that mould resistance depends on the method applied. Therefore

Industrial drying of sawn timber is a process driven by a difference in moisture content (MC) between the core and the surface as moisture moves from the wet inner region towards the drier surface. After drying, the timber surface is always drier than its core, and stresses have developed within the wood volume. If the timber is to be further processed, these stresses and the moisture gradient need

The objectives of the work described in this paper were to present concept processing pathways for manufacturing high value, green-glued finger-jointed Eucalyptus engineered products and review existing research related to these engineered products. Additionally, critical knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in future research were identified. Research on four green-glued Eucalyptus products (green

Hardwood timber is becoming increasingly important in Europe for its use as structural material, both as solid wood and engineered structural products. In Italy, the great abundance of beech forests has recently led to a research project to investigate the use of this species in construction. A first step is the characterization of the raw material for the production of structural glued products. This

A study on the fracture characteristics of unmodified and chemically modified Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is presented. The investigated material consisted of small-dimension sawn timber originating from young logs (thinnings), aged 30–40 years. The modified samples were acetylated with acetic anhydride in an industrial scale process without the use of any catalyst, reaching an acetyl content of

Low density and poor mechanical performance often limit utilisation of sawn wood from fast-growing plantation forests. Thermo-hygro-mechanical modification (THM) of timber is one innovation for improving the properties of light-weight wood species. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of THM and subsequent thermal treatment on dry density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), compression

Addition of small proportions of polyamide amine to MF resins for the purpose of resin impregnation yields a considerable improvement in both paper toughness and tensile fracture strength. The fracture strain of impregnated paper with modified resin was enhanced by more than 100% (1.08%) as compared to comparable impregnation with neat MF resin (0.49%) without sacrificing the tensile strength.

The performance of varnishes applied to wood will depend on the way in which its surfaces have been prepared. Sanding has traditionally been used to prepare surfaces prior to coating. This process is one of the most expensive operations in woodworking, which produces a high level of wood dust. As a result, other surfacing processes are actually studied as alternatives to sanding for wood finishing

Lignocellulosic micro-fines (LCMFs) were prepared from pine wood meal by glycol ether liquefaction using microwave irradiation for 90 s. The recovery method and reusability of the solvent (glycol ether) for the liquefaction process were examined. When the volume of the dehydrated recovered solvent was compared with that of the original solvent, the recovery rate was about 97% and this recovery rate

Peeling industry is the most important outlet for poplar resource composed of many cultivars. A comprehensive evaluation of wood quality of these different cultivars is necessary for a better knowledge of their suitability for innovative applications, like LVL for construction, in order to help foresters in their choices. This research participates to this approach, focusing on mechanical properties

Life cycle assessment is a valuable tool for evaluating the environmental performance of different products and services. According to the European Commission, forests are indispensable and the most effective strategy for climate change mitigation, although raw wood products (roundwood, pulpwood and fuelwood) are not carbon neutral as previously thought because of the human activities during forest

This paper presents the results of extensive investigations on the lamination strength grading, the production and the mechanical properties of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) glued laminated timber (GLT). Based on the analysis of potential influencing parameters on strength and stiffness as well as subsequent tension tests parallel to the grain on single boards, a combined visual/machine approach

Inadequate and non-uniform penetration of preservatives into refractory wood species is a main concern in the wood preservation industry for pressure processes. Although the treatability of wood is greatly related to its porous structure, it may be influenced by other parameters like wood moisture content, drying technique, preservative formulation and treatment process. General principles of the wood

Acacia auriculiformis is increasingly used as timber in Benin, while little is known about its wood characteristics and the factors affecting such characteristics in the country. The determination of these characteristics is necessary for understanding the functioning of this species and its uses. The aim of this study was to evaluate anatomical and physico-mechanical properties of Acacia auriculiformis

This contribution presents the development of a dry-cast method for the one-step preparation of bio-based films from wood polymers that mimic the bilayered structure of tree bark, the natural protective layer of the tree. In a simplified view, natural bark can be considered as the superposition of an external homogeneous and non-porous layer (outer bark) and a porous substructure layer (inner bark)

The aim of this article is to correlate the experimental modal analysis (EMA) with finite element analysis (FEA) to study the effect of wood species on vibration modes of violin plates made of spruce and maple. For EMA, five violin plates each made of spruce and maple were tested (curly maple, quilted maple, common maple with regular and irregular rings). The plates were clamped on edges and subjected

Studying the cutting forces during wood machining by a removal process is crucial to ensure high surface quality, maximum precision and to minimize chattering phenomena. Currently, industrial tasks and research works concerning using serial robots for wood machining are rare, which can be explained by the low stiffness of such machines. High cutting forces with low machine rigidity undeniably disturb

To enable an increased use of wood products for construction there is a need to include products based not only on softwoods. Poplar-based products are an excellent and promising tool allowing the development of sustainable strategies, as fast-growing species reduce the pressure on natural forests. In this direction, this paper presents the relationship between mechanical properties under compressive

Several studies have shown that the heartwood of Prosopis juliflora contains high amounts of a naturally rare flavan-3-ol compound identified as 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)chromane-3,7,8-triol otherwise known as (−)-mesquitol (1). It is known to possess strong antioxidant properties, which may be of valuable interest for further valorization. However, no data exists so far showing the variations of its

Environmental issues and health-benefitting design strategies have raised interest in natural and renewable building materials, resulting in an increased focus on the use of wood in built environment. The influence of wooden materials on measured and perceived indoor environment quality (IEQ) has gained attention during the past few decades, with a growing number of studies having explored the issue

Circulations of some wood products are identified as one of the causes that have facilitated the introduction of pathogens and insects in several countries of the world. This biological invasion has caused the destruction of plant species, causing significant economic and ecological losses for many regions of the world. To this end, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has established, through the International

Broussonetiapapyrifera leaf protein was used as a biomass feedstock to prepare wood adhesives, and the influence of cutting modes (cutting frequencies and cutting heights) on leaf protein content and reactivity was studied in this paper. Bonding performance of Broussonetiapapyrifera leaf protein-based adhesives were evaluated by shear strength of plywood. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

The presented research concerns the use of a laser profilometer to measure the surface roughness of green Douglas fir heartwood veneers during the peeling process. It investigates the effect of various process parameters on the surface quality. Three experiments were carried out with a single variable factor for each experiment: log centration, soaking temperature and cutting speed. Moreover, the origin

The performance of adhesive-hardwood bonds can often be sensitive to humidity and temperature variation. Therefore, it is frequently challenging to achieve standard requirements for structural applications. To gain a better understanding of the wood-adhesive bond, the properties of the individual constituents as well as the local interface of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) wood cell walls in contact

Vacuum technology was applied to the hot-pressing technology of plywood production with phenolic resin (PF). For plywood with the same number of layers, veneers were hot-pressed with conventional and vacuum hot-pressing processes respectively at the same hot-pressing time. Varying layers (3, 9 and 15-layers) and spread quantities (220 g m−2, 260 g m−2, 300 g m−2) were applied. Heat transfer performance

Lapachol is a natural naphthoquinone with several significant biological activities. This study aims to analyze the longitudinal distribution of lapachol in four species of Handroanthus spp. The Handroanthus serratifolius (Vahl.) S. O. Grose and Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. Ex DC.) Mattos species showed higher yields of lapachol than Handroanthus ochraceus (Cham.) Mattos and the Handroanthus capitatus

This paper examined the potential of reducing the hygroscopicity of pine wood treated with chitosan polymer. Chitosan is considered to be one of the most widely used materials having the major advantage of the existence of modifiable positions in its chemical structure (amino and hydroxyl groups). The Hailwood–Horrobin model was applied in order to determine the sorption isotherms. The analysis revealed

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an important engineered wood product manufactured by bonding veneers together in grain direction. To understand the effect of lathe checks on the mechanical performance, three types of LVL with different assembling approaches of layering by taking into account the veneer lathe checks, namely loose-loose (LL), tight-tight (TT) and loose-tight (LT), were manufactured

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the effects of various OSB-strand modifications on physical and mechanical properties of strand board. Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) strands were acetylated using acetic anhydride or thermally modified at 180 °C using atmospheric pressure and superheated steam environment. Strand boards made of acetylated strands (Acet), thermally modified strands (TM)

The main goal of this study was to investigate the amounts of hydrophilic extractives in bark and wood samples of black locust stem (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Six adult trees were included in the present investigation. Samples were taken from each felled trunk at four different heights. Material was extracted with a mixture of acetone and water, and the hydrophilic extractives were, then, qualitatively

This study focused on wood distortion of boards sawn from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees grown in uneven-aged stands. The stands were multi-aged with tree ages up to 170 years. In total, 60 trees were harvested from six stands that had been managed by single-tree selection for decades. A butt log and a top log were sawn from each tree, both 2.5 m long. Wood deformations were measured

Beech wood, due to its properties, is one of the most versatile and successfully used construction materials. The wood properties could even be improved, and among different wood modification processes, the thermal modification approach is usually considered as an environment-friendly technology based only on the heat and water application during wood treatment. Changes in material properties resulting

The characteristic value of compressive strength parallel to the grain is used to design structural members in bridges, houses and buildings. Such value is obtained based on experimental tests. The Brazilian standard proposes equations to estimate the strengths by means of probabilistic equations that allow obtaining the characteristic values of different mechanical strengths, such as the compressive

Fluorides are well-known as wood preservatives. One of the limitations of fluoride-based wood preservatives is their high leachability. Alternative to current fluoride salts such as NaF used in wood protection are low water-soluble fluorides. However, impregnation of low water-soluble fluorides into wood poses a challenge. To address this challenge, low water-soluble fluorides like calcium fluoride

Lightweight panels, as an eco-friendly element for furniture manufacturing, offer several potential market and production opportunities for many secondary woodworking companies. In this study, the perceptions of Iranian furniture manufacturers were evaluated by means of ANP-based multi-type questionnaires, regarding the conditions and requisite features of lightweight panels in furniture manufacturing

The main goal of this paper was to examine whether image processing can be an effective tool in automatic quality control systems for furniture manufacturing, at least in cases where delamination is a key problem. Image processing turned out to be a very effective way of delamination factor monitoring. Moreover, the research analyzed the quality effect of up or down milling of melamine-faced MDF. The

Industrial wastewater is currently a big challenge for authorities due to its environmental issues when disposed to the ecosystem. From an economic perspective and long treatment time, it is yet more reasonable to recover and reuse wastewater in industries. In this work, the wastewater from an ion exchange resin regeneration process was directly and without any further treatment reused in the wood

Manufacture of green building materials has been increasing recently. There are many scientific publications related to lignocellulosic waste incorporation in Portland cement systems, but only few research works on the waste recovery in alkali-activated binders can be found. Alkali-activated materials could be a choice of ecological and renewable materials due to good durability, as well as mechanical