Molecular-Level Characterization of Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Wood in Response to Thermal Treatment

Author(s):  
Dong Wang ◽  
Feng Fu ◽  
Lanying Lin

Abstract Thermal treatment can improve the dimensional stability of wood, but it also decreases wood’s stiffness and increases its brittleness. In this paper, combining FTIR spectroscopy and mechanical analysis was used to in-situ study the molecular-level responses to stresses and analyze mechanical interactions among components in thermally-treated wood. For both untreated and treated woods, the cellulose was the longitudinal tensile load-bearing component of wood, but the lignin participated in the load transfer in the fiber direction. Moreover, the FTIR results indicated that hemicellulose degradation, as the interface between cellulose and lignin, decreased shear slipping between microfibrils. The interfacial material degradation also caused the wood’s stiffness and mechanical responses of the matrix along the cell transverse direction decrease. Upon increasing the heat treatment intensity, the cellulose microfibrils rearranged along the cell axis, resulting in the ability of the cell wall to resist deformation and the wood’s stiffness being increased.

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (06n07) ◽  
pp. 1401-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALI NABIPOUR CHAKOLI ◽  
WEI CAI ◽  
SUI JIEHE ◽  
JIANG TAO FENG

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grafted with poly(L-lactide-e-caprolactone) (PCLA) were synthesized by in situ ring opening polymerization and used as a reinforcement for neat PCLA. The analyzed data revealed that the applied tensile load on the composite was transferred to the functionalized MWCNTs, leading to a strain failure of the MWCNTs rather than an adhesive failure between the MWCNTs and the matrix. In comparison between the functionalized and pristine MWCNTs, as reinforcement materials for PCLA random copolymers (80% L-lactide (LA), 20% e-caprolactone (CL)) (PCLAR80), the functionalized MWCNTs are more effective reinforcement materials than pristine MWCNTs. In comparison with the neat PCLAR80, the increasing in tensile strength (28.03%) and elongation at failure (49.6%) when functionalized MWCNT loading reaches 1.0 wt%, indicate that an effective reinforcement of the MWCNT-OH-g-PCLA .


Author(s):  
M. R. Pinnel ◽  
A. Lawley

Numerous phenomenological descriptions of the mechanical behavior of composite materials have been developed. There is now an urgent need to study and interpret deformation behavior, load transfer, and strain distribution, in terms of micromechanisms at the atomic level. One approach is to characterize dislocation substructure resulting from specific test conditions by the various techniques of transmission electron microscopy. The present paper describes a technique for the preparation of electron transparent composites of aluminum-stainless steel, such that examination of the matrix-fiber (wire), or interfacial region is possible. Dislocation substructures are currently under examination following tensile, compressive, and creep loading. The technique complements and extends the one other study in this area by Hancock.The composite examined was hot-pressed (argon atmosphere) 99.99% aluminum reinforced with 15% volume fraction stainless steel wire (0.006″ dia.).Foils were prepared so that the stainless steel wires run longitudinally in the plane of the specimen i.e. the electron beam is perpendicular to the axes of the wires. The initial step involves cutting slices ∼0.040″ in thickness on a diamond slitting wheel.


Author(s):  
Warren J. Moberly ◽  
Daniel B. Miracle ◽  
S. Krishnamurthy

Titanium-aluminum alloy metal matrix composites (MMC) and Ti-Al intermetallic matrix composites (IMC), reinforced with continuous SCS6 SiC fibers are leading candidates for high temperature aerospace applications such as the National Aerospace Plane (NASP). The nature of deformation at fiber / matrix interfaces is characterized in this ongoing research. One major concern is the mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the Ti-based matrix and the SiC fiber. This can lead to thermal stresses upon cooling down from the temperature incurred during hot isostatic pressing (HIP), which are sufficient to cause yielding in the matrix, and/or lead to fatigue from the thermal cycling that will be incurred during application, A second concern is the load transfer, from fiber to matrix, that is required if/when fiber fracture occurs. In both cases the stresses in the matrix are most severe at the interlace.


Author(s):  
W.W. Adams ◽  
S. J. Krause

Rigid-rod polymers such as PBO, poly(paraphenylene benzobisoxazole), Figure 1a, are now in commercial development for use as high-performance fibers and for reinforcement at the molecular level in molecular composites. Spinning of liquid crystalline polyphosphoric acid solutions of PBO, followed by washing, drying, and tension heat treatment produces fibers which have the following properties: density of 1.59 g/cm3; tensile strength of 820 kpsi; tensile modulus of 52 Mpsi; compressive strength of 50 kpsi; they are electrically insulating; they do not absorb moisture; and they are insensitive to radiation, including ultraviolet. Since the chain modulus of PBO is estimated to be 730 GPa, the high stiffness also affords the opportunity to reinforce a flexible coil polymer at the molecular level, in analogy to a chopped fiber reinforced composite. The objectives of the molecular composite concept are to eliminate the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the fiber and the matrix, as occurs in conventional composites, to eliminate the interface between the fiber and the matrix, and, hopefully, to obtain synergistic effects from the exceptional stiffness of the rigid-rod molecule. These expectations have been confirmed in the case of blending rigid-rod PBZT, poly(paraphenylene benzobisthiazole), Figure 1b, with stiff-chain ABPBI, poly 2,5(6) benzimidazole, Fig. 1c A film with 30% PBZT/70% ABPBI had tensile strength 190 kpsi and tensile modulus of 13 Mpsi when solution spun from a 3% methane sulfonic acid solution into a film. The modulus, as predicted by rule of mixtures, for a film with this composition and with planar isotropic orientation, should be 16 Mpsi. The experimental value is 80% of the theoretical value indicating that the concept of a molecular composite is valid.


Author(s):  
A. Hammad ◽  
T. D. Swinburne ◽  
H. Hasan ◽  
S. Del Rosso ◽  
L. Iannucci ◽  
...  

Solitons are proposed as the agents of plastic and viscoelastic deformation in aligned polyethylene. Interactions between straight, parallel molecules are mapped rigorously onto the Frenkel–Kontorova model. It is shown that these molecular interactions distribute an applied load between molecules, with a characteristic transfer length equal to the soliton width. Load transfer leads to the introduction of tensile and compressive solitons at the chain ends to mark the onset of plasticity at a well-defined yield stress, which is much less than the theoretical pull-out stress. Interaction energies between solitons and an equation of motion for solitons are derived. The equation of motion is based on Langevin dynamics and the fluctuation–dissipation theorem and it leads to the rigorous definition of an effective mass for solitons. It forms the basis of a soliton dynamics in direct analogy to dislocation dynamics. Close parallels are drawn between solitons in aligned polymers and dislocations in crystals, including the configurational force on a soliton. The origins of the strain rate and temperature dependencies of the viscoelastic behaviour are discussed in terms of the formation energy of solitons. A failure mechanism is proposed involving soliton condensation under a tensile load.


2016 ◽  
Vol 688 ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iveta Čabalová ◽  
František Kačík ◽  
Tereza Tribulová

Samples prepared from oak (Quercusrobur L.) wood were exposed to heat treatment at temperatures of 160, 180, 200 and 220 oC for 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours. In both untreated and thermally treated wood there were determined extractives and lignin by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) procedures, cellulose by Seifert's method, holocellulose according to Wise, hemicelluloses as difference between holocellulose and cellulose. Monosaccharides were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (NREL).The results show that hemicelluloses are less stable at thermal treatment than cellulose. The amounts of lignin and extractives rose by increasing both temperature and time of the treatment while the amounts of hemicelluloses decreased. Thermal treatment also resulted in significant decreases of the yields of non-glucosic saccharides. Degradation of carbohydrates can cause the deterioration of mechanical properties of wood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiawei Wang ◽  
Eiji Minami ◽  
Mohd Asmadi ◽  
Haruo Kawamoto

AbstractThe thermal degradation reactivities of hemicellulose and cellulose in wood cell walls are significantly different from the thermal degradation behavior of the respective isolated components. Furthermore, the degradation of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, a softwood) is distinct from that of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata, a hardwood). Lignin and uronic acid are believed to play crucial roles in governing this behavior. In this study, the effects of ball milling for various durations of time on the degradation reactivities of cedar and beech woods were evaluated based on the recovery rates of hydrolyzable sugars from pyrolyzed wood samples. The applied ball-milling treatment cleaved the lignin β-ether bonds and reduced the crystallinity of cellulose, as determined by X-ray diffraction. Both xylan and glucomannan degraded in a similar temperature range, although the isolated components exhibited different reactivities because of the catalytic effect of uronic acid bound to the xylose chains. These observations can be explained by the more homogeneous distribution of uronic acid in the matrix of cell walls as a result of ball milling. As observed for holocelluloses, cellulose in the ball-milled woods degraded in two temperature ranges (below 320 °C and above); a significant amount of cellulose degraded in the lower temperature range, which significantly changed the shapes of the thermogravimetric curves. This report compares the results obtained for cedar and beech woods, and discusses them in terms of the thermal degradation of the matrix and cellulose microfibrils in wood cell walls and role of lignin. Such information is crucial for understanding the pyrolysis and heat treatment of wood.


Author(s):  
M. H. Nai ◽  
C. S. Goh ◽  
S. M. L. Nai ◽  
J. Wei ◽  
M. Gupta

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are coated with nickel (Ni) to improve the wettability of the CNT surface and metal matrix, and allow an effective load transfer from the matrix to nanotubes. Pure magnesium is used as the matrix material and different weight percentages of Ni-coated multi-walled CNTs are incorporated as the reinforcing material. The nanocomposite materials are synthesized using the powder metallurgy route followed by microwave assisted rapid sintering. Mechanical property characterizations reveal an improvement of 0.2% yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and ductility with the addition of Ni-CNTs. As such, Ni-coated CNTs can be used as a reinforcement in magnesium to improve the formability of the material for light-weight, strength-based applications.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Pandey ◽  
Smita Mohanty ◽  
Sanjay Kumar Nayak

A new approach of oxidation of carbon nanotubes has been used to oxidize the CNTs. A comparative aspect of the mechanical oxidation and acid oxidation process has been established. FTIR analysis and titration method have shown the higher feasibility of the mechanical oxidation method to oxidize the CNTs. Comparatively less damage to the CNTs has been observed in case of mechanically oxidized as compared to acid oxidized CNTs. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites reinforced with the acid oxidized CNT (ACNT) and mechanically oxidized CNTs (McCNT) were analyzed and relatively higher properties in the nanocomposites reinforced with McCNT were noticed. The less degree of entanglement in the McCNTs was noticed as compared to ACNTs. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the nanocomposites revealed much improved load transfer capability in the McCNT reinforced composites. Further, the rheological properties of the nanocomposites revealed the higher performance of McCNT reinforced composites.


2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hesham El Naggar ◽  
Jin Qi Wei

Tapered piles have a substantial advantage with regard to their load-carrying capacity in the downward frictional mode. The uplift performance of tapered piles, however, has not been fully understood. This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation into the characteristics of the uplift performance of tapered piles. Three instrumented steel piles with different degrees of taper were installed in cohesionless soil and subjected to compressive and tensile load tests. The soil was contained in a steel soil chamber and pressurized using an air bladder to facilitate modelling the confining pressures pertinent to larger embedment depths. The results of this study indicated that the pile axial uplift capacity increased with an increase in the confining pressure for all piles examined in this study. The ratios of uplift to compressive load for tapered piles were less than those for straight piles of the same length and average embedded diameter. The uplift capacity of tapered piles was found to be comparable to that of straight-sided wall piles at higher confining pressure values, suggesting that the performance of actual tapered piles (with greater length) would be comparable to that of straight-sided wall piles. Also, the results indicated that residual stresses developed during the compressive loading phase and their effect were more significant on the initial uplift capacity of piles, and this effect was more pronounced for tapered piles in medium-dense sand.Key words: tapered piles, uplift, axial response, load transfer, experimental modelling.


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