Densification of wood – Chemical and structural changes due to ultrasonic and mechanical treatment

This paper presents the state of the art of wood surface densification method by pressing with ultrasound. The properties of ultrasound and its effects on the structure and properties of wood, as well as ultrasound-induced chemical changes in wood material, are described. The following research results were analyzed: the effects of acoustic cavitation in wood material, plasticization of wood lignin by processing with ultrasound, the influence of ultrasound on the wood anatomical structure, the combined effect of ultrasound and wood pressing, and the sterilization of wood using ultrasonic action. Ultrasound causes conversion of lignin from glassy into a quasi-rubbery state, which facilitates compaction of the workpiece surface. Additionally, under ultrasound, growth and collapse of gas bubbles (cavitation phenomena) occur within a liquid medium of wooden substance accompanied by high local temperatures and production of chemically active radicals. This contributes to the destruction of the former and the formation of new bonds in the wood substance, which is important for increasing the stability of the workpiece size after densification. The conclusions made about the ultrasound can be effectively used for the wood plasticization and about prospects of joint use of wood pressing and ultrasound for wood surface densification.

Densification of wood – Chemical and structural changes due to ultrasonic and mechanical treatment

This paper presents the state of the art of wood surface densification method by pressing with ultrasound. The properties of ultrasound and its effects on the structure and properties of wood, as well as ultrasound-induced chemical changes in wood material, are described. The following research results were analyzed: the effects of acoustic cavitation in wood material, plasticization of wood lignin by processing with ultrasound, the influence of ultrasound on the wood anatomical structure, the combined effect of ultrasound and wood pressing, and the sterilization of wood using ultrasonic action. Ultrasound causes conversion of lignin from glassy into a quasi-rubbery state, which facilitates compaction of the workpiece surface. Additionally, under ultrasound, growth and collapse of gas bubbles (cavitation phenomena) occur within a liquid medium of wooden substance accompanied by high local temperatures and production of chemically active radicals. This contributes to the destruction of the former and the formation of new bonds in the wood substance, which is important for increasing the stability of the workpiece size after densification. The conclusions made about the ultrasound can be effectively used for the wood plasticization and about prospects of joint use of wood pressing and ultrasound for wood surface densification.

Influence of Sintering Temperature of Kaolin, Slag, and Fly Ash Geopolymers on the Microstructure, Phase Analysis, and Electrical Conductivity

This paper clarified the microstructural element distribution and electrical conductivity changes of kaolin, fly ash, and slag geopolymer at 900 °C. The surface microstructure analysis showed the development in surface densification within the geopolymer when in contact with sintering temperature. It was found that the electrical conductivity was majorly influenced by the existence of the crystalline phase within the geopolymer sample. The highest electrical conductivity (8.3 × 10−4 Ωm−1) was delivered by slag geopolymer due to the crystalline mineral of gehlenite (3Ca2Al2SiO7). Using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence, the high concentration Ca boundaries revealed the appearance of gehlenite crystallisation, which was believed to contribute to development of denser microstructure and electrical conductivity.

The role of lignin in wood working processes using elevated temperatures: an abbreviated literature survey

The lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses in wood are polymers that behave similarly to the artificial polymers and are bonded together in wood. Lignin differs from the other two substances by its highly branched, amorphous, three-dimensional structure. Under appropriate conditions, the moist lignin incorporated in the wood softens at about 100 °C and allows the molecules of it to deform in the cell walls. There are many advantages and disadvantages to this phenomenon. If we know this process accurately and the industrial areas where it matters, we may be able to improve these industrial processes. This article provides a brief theoretical summary of lignin softening and the woodworking processes where it plays a role: wood welding, pellet manufacturing, manufacturing binderless boards, solid wood bending, veneer manufacturing, and solid wood surface densification.

In-situ penetration of ionic liquids during surface densification of Scots pine

The moisture-induced recovery of compressed wood is one of the major problems of wood densification technology. Achieving a cost-efficient surface densification process without the need for additional resins to eliminate the set-recovery may lead to an increase in value of low-density wood species. A previous study has shown that a pre-treatment with ionic liquids (ILs) can nearly eliminate the set-recovery. It was however observed that during the pre-treatment process the IL did not penetrate sufficiently deep into the wood to explain the achieved reduction in set-recovery. Based on these findings, the hypothesis was posed that further penetration of the IL into the wood occurs during the densification stage as a consequence of the applied heat and pressure. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and gas-chromatography mass-selective-detection (GC-MSD) showed that the depth of penetration of the IL was greater after the densification process than before. Digital image correlation (DIC) showed that in regions with a high IL concentration, there was almost no set-recovery, and it gradually increased with a decrease in the IL concentration, as observed with TGA and GC-MSD analysis.

Surface roughness and wettability of surface densified heat-treated Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.)

Surface roughness and wettability of the heat-treated and then surface densified spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) wood were measured to determine the effect of densification and heat-treatment on wood surface properties. The process of heat-treatment with an initial vacuum was performed in a vacuum chamber on oven dried lamellas with dimensions of 630 mm (longitudinal direction) x 45 mm (tangential direction) x 25 mm (radial direction). The lamellas were heat-treated at four different temperatures which were 170 °C, 190 °C, 210 °C and 230 °C. Control specimens were not exposed to heat-treatment. The lamellas were first heated to 100 °C, the creation of a vacuum taking 30 min at this temperature, and then heated to the desired temperature, and treated at this constant temperature for 3 h. The lamellas were then cooled down by using coils with cold water inside the chamber. Surface densification of lamellas with compression from 22 mm to 15 mm thickness was made by press platens heated at 150 °C and held in that position for 60 s. After the 1 min, the heated platen was cooled to 90 °C, whilst the specimen remained under compression to minimize immediate spring back. The total time of compression was 2 min (30 s closing, 60 s pressing and approx. 30 s cooling). In the treatment groups, the optimum treatment temperature on the one-side densified wood specimens was found to be 170 °C based on the surface roughness and wettability values. Surface densification significantly decreased the surface roughness of the wood specimens. The surface quality of wood can be improved when the wood is exposed to the heat-treatment and then surface densification.

Surface densification of poplar solid wood: Effects of the process parameters on the density profile and hardness

Poplar (Populus tomentosa Carr.) solid wood was surface densified in the tangential direction, and the vertical density profile (VDP) and hardness of the treated and untreated samples were measured. The effects of the process parameters on the VDP and hardness were investigated. To explicitly describe the VDP of the surface densified wood, five indices (AD, ADx, PD, PDi, and DTh) were used. The compressing temperature and closing speed influenced the formation and shape of the VDP. A higher temperature yielded a greater PD and Pdi, and a faster closing speed yielded a higher PD, but smaller PDi and DTh. Increasing the compression ratio increased the AD, ADx, and maximum load, and the poplar wood was compressed in the overall thickness as the compression ratio exceeded a certain degree. The Janka hardness of the poplar wood was significantly improved after surface densification; a higher temperature resulting in a higher surface hardness was explained by the higher PD. The closing speed and compression ratio affected the hardness by impacting the VDP, specifically the PD and DTh indices. When the PD and DTh were greater the surface hardness was greater. By this study, a compressing temperature of 140 to 160 °C and the closing speed of 10 mm/min is recommended, and to prevent the deformation of unheated side of the wood samples and obtain a higher surface hardness, the compression ratio is restricted to 20%.