| 1. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, Senior Lecturer, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Anatomical, Physical, Chemical, and Biological Durability Properties of Two Rattan Species of Different Diameter Classes
- 2022
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In: Forests. - Switzerland : MDPI. - 1999-4907 .- 1999-4907. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rattan cane is an important forest product with economic value. Its anatomical, physical, and biological properties vary with the cane height. This makes it difficult to select the appropriate cane diameter for harvesting. Understanding the material properties of rattan cane with different diameter sizes is important to enhance its utilization and performance for different end uses. Thus, the present study was performed on two rattan species, Calamus zollingeri and Calamus ornatus, at two different cane heights (bottom/mature and top/juvenile). Calamus zollingeri was studied at diameter classes of 20 mm and 30 mm, while Calamus ornatus was analyzed at a diameter class of 15 mm. The anatomical properties, basic density, volumetric swelling, dynamic moisture sorption, and biological durability of rattan samples were studied. The results showed that C. zollingeri with a 20 mm diameter exhibited the highest basic density, hydrophobicity, dimensional stability, and durability against mold and white-rot (Trametes versicolor) fungi. As confirmed by anatomical studies, this could be due to the higher vascular bundle frequency and longer thick-walled fibers that led to a denser structure than in the other categories. In addition, the lignin content might have a positive effect on the mass loss of different rattan canes caused by white-rot decay.
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| 2. |
- Jones, Grace
(author)
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Birch Stem and Wood Traits in Genetic and Silviculture Trials in Southern Sweden
- 2022
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Swedish tree species of birch (silver: Betula pendula and downy: B. pubescens) are often neglected during forest management activities, resulting in low value logs. This thesis investigated birch stem characteristics and wood properties important for solid wood products, in genetics and management trials in southern Sweden. As well as visual stem size and form measurements, non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT) tools were used to indirectly estimate wood density (hardness), wood stiffness, and grain angle.The results of this work suggest that for the 19-year-old silver birch and 15-year-old downy birch sites, important solid wood traits were under a reasonable degree of genetic control. It seems possible to breed birch to improve grain angle since heritability and genetic variation was high for this trait. Silver birch genotypes are expected to perform similarly across sites. At a site with both birch species, silver birch was larger with denser wood than downy birch. Few genetic correlations between measurements means selection for one trait will not inadvertently affect another trait. The radial density profiles showed density was continuing to increase. Acoustic velocity (AV) and fibre length were highly correlated, hardness and density were related, and ring width was related to ring density. In a 35-year-old planted Norway spruce stand, naturally regenerated birch AV was not different between treatments (20% or 50% of plot trees were birch by number). However, a correlation was observed between DBH and AV. This older site may reflect common Swedish conditions since planting birch is rare, and likely had more mature birch wood than the genetics trials. Although meeting an immediate need for studies of birch wood properties from managed stands, this work covered few sites. To meet this limitation the tools and techniques applied in this thesis could be used in further studies. The results of this thesis work will be of interest to forest managers who want to breed birch, or select birch stands, for solid wood products.
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| 3. |
- Adamopoulos, Stergios, et al.
(author)
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Acoustic properties of acetylated wood under different humid conditions and its relevance for musical instruments
- 2018
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In: Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Wood Modification 2018, Arnhem, The Netherlands. - The Netherlands : Practicum. ; , s. 236-243
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In musical instrument making, less expensive wood species and materials with good characteristics and acoustical properties can provide potentials to find alternatives to the traditional exotic wood species used today. Modified wood could be such a choice if shows similar sound characteristics to wood coming from endangered and expensive tropical species with problematic commercial availability. In musical instruments, the overall functionality depends on the contribution of wood to different material performance indexes like sound radiation coefficient (R), characteristic impedance (z) and acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE). In this study, the performance indexes were measured for acetylated beech, maple and radiata pine and compared with these obtained for the reference wood materials maple, mahogany, alder and ash. A non-destructive free-free flexural vibration test method was used at constant temperature (20oC) but in different humid conditions- dry (35% RH), standard (65% RH) and wet (85% RH). Dimensional changes in the different humid conditions were also taken in account. Acetylated wood showed lower EMC with higher dimensional stability at each humidity level as compared with the reference wood materials. These properties are considered important factors for making quality musical instruments. Based on the acoustical properties, acetylated wood materials, especially radiata pine, showed good potential for use for musical instruments where specific characteristics of sound are required. However, the other types of acetylated wood can also be used for specific musical instruments.
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| 4. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, et al.
(author)
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Acoustic properties of modified wood under different humid conditions and their relevance for musical instruments
- 2018
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In: Applied Acoustics. - : Elsevier. - 0003-682X. ; 140, s. 92-99
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In musical instrument making, there is a strong need to find alternatives to the traditional endangered and expensive tropical wood species used today. The present study examined whether different commercial and experimental modified wood materials have the necessary acoustic qualities under different humid conditions (dry, standard and wet) to contribute to the use of raw materials for wooden musical instruments. The materials were thermally-modified wood (ash, aspen and birch), acetylated wood (beech, maple and radiata pine), melamine- and phenol formaldehyde-treated beech and furfurylated Scots pine (Kebony Scots pine). Investigations involved physical (density ρ, Equilibrium moisture content EMC, volumetric shrinkage) and dynamic elastic testing by a free-free flexural vibration method to determine various acoustic characteristics: specific dynamic modulus (MOEdyn/ρ), damping coefficient (tanδ), speed of sound (c), specific acoustic impedance (z), sound radiation coefficient (R) and acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE). The modified materials and especially acetylated wood showed low EMC values and high dimensional stability at each humidity level, which are considered important factors for making quality musical instruments. Based on the obtained value ranges of all acoustical properties, the different modified wood materials could find uses in musical instruments where specific characteristics of sound are required. Furthermore, most of the modified materials showed an excellent acoustic performance in the three humid conditions based on a high ACE and low tanδ. Furfurylated Scots pine and phenol formaldehyde-treated beech showed an inferior acoustic quality with the lowest ACE and the highest tanδ, which is a less favourable combination for most of the musical instruments.
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| 5. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, et al.
(author)
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Effect of oil impregnation on water repellency, dimensional stability and mold susceptibility of thermally-modified European aspen and downy birch wood
- 2017
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In: Journal of Wood Science. - Japan : Springer. - 1435-0211 .- 1611-4663. ; 63:1, s. 74-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Conventional chemical wood preservatives have been banned or restricted in some applications due to human and animal toxicity and their adverse impact on the surrounding environment. New, low-environmental-impact wood treatments that still provide effective protection systems are needed to protect wood. Thermal modification of wood could reduce hygroscopicity, improve dimensional stability and enhance resistance to mold attack. The aim of this study is to investigate if these properties enhanced in thermally-modified (TM) wood through treatments with oils. In this study, TM European aspen (Populus tremula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens) wood were impregnated with three different types of oil: water-miscible commercial Elit Träskydd (Beckers oil with propiconazole and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate, IPBC), a pine tar formulation and 100% tung oil. The properties of oil-impregnated wood investigated were water repellency, dimensional stability and mold susceptibility. The treated wood especially with pine tar and tung oil, showed an increase in water repellency and dimensional stability. However, Beckers oil which contains biocides like propiconazole and IPBC, showed better protection against mold compared with pine tar and tung oil. To enhance the dimensional stability of the wood, pine tar and tung oil can be used, but these oil treatments did not significantly improve mold resistance rather sometimes enhanced the mold growth. Whereas, a significant anti-mold effect was observed on Beckers oil treated samples.
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| 6. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, et al.
(author)
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Förstudie: värmebehandling av trä : slutrapport
- 2012
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Projektet har bedrivits som en förstudie till en större ansökan inom området Värmebehandlat trä för interiört bruk. Projektet inleds med studier av olje- och tjärupptagning i värmebehandlat trä genomen speciell impregneringsmetod som bygger på förvärmning och undertryck i materialet. Tanken är att med denna metod kunna tillföre ytterligare en egenskap som skyddar trä och gör det attraktivt för inomhusbruk genom att t ex blockera den något besvärande luft som kommer från värmebehandlat trä.Projektet syftar till att undersöka möjligheten att med en förenklad impregneringsmetod erhålla tillräcklig penetrering av impregneringsmedel (Becker olja och trätjära) och i samband därmed studera fördelningen av impregneringsmedel i trä.
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| 7. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, Senior Lecturer, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose in Lignin–Phenol–Formaldehyde Adhesives for Plywood Production
- 2023
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In: Forests. - Switzerland : MDPI. - 1999-4907 .- 1999-4907. ; 14:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Petrochemical-based phenol–formaldehyde (PF) adhesives are widely used in plywood production. To substitute phenol in the synthesis of PF adhesives, lignin can be added due to its structural similarity to phenol. Moreover, micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) can further enhance the bond performance, mechanical properties, and toughness of adhesive systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion performance of lignin–PF (LPF) adhesives reinforced with MFC. In LPF formulations, three levels of MFC (0, 15, and 30 wt% based on the total solid content of adhesives) were added to the homogenous adhesive mixture. Three-layer plywood panels from birch (Betula pendula Roth.) veneers were assembled after hot pressing at 130 °C under two pressing durations, e.g., 60 and 75 s/mm. Tensile shear strength was measured at dry (20 °C and 65% RH) and wet conditions (water soaked at room temperature for 24 h). The results indicated that the addition of lignin reduced the strength of LPF adhesives in both dry and wet conditions compared to the control PF adhesive. However, MFC reinforcement enhanced the shear strength properties of the plywood. Furthermore, a longer pressing time of 75 s/mm slightly increased the shear strength.
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| 8. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, et al.
(author)
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Moisture properties of heat-treated Scots pine and Norway spruce sapwood impregnated with wood preservatives
- 2012
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In: Wood and Fiber Science. - : Society of Wood Science and Technology. - 0735-6161. ; 44:1, s. 85-93
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An experiment was conducted on commercially heat-treated (HT) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) sapwood collected from Ht Wood AB, Arvidsjaur, Sweden. Secondary treatment on HT wood was performed in laboratory scale by impregnating with water-repellent preservatives (a commercial one and pine tar) to evaluate their retention and different moisture-related properties. Preservative solutions were impregnated using a simple and effective method. Wood samples were heated at 170°C in a dry oven and were immediately immersed in preservative solutions. Considerable retention was observed in HT wood, particularly in pine. Moisture adsorption properties were measured after conditioning in a high-humidity environmental chamber (4°C and 84% RH). Experimental results showed that secondary treatment enhanced moisture excluding efficiencies by decreasing equilibrium moisture content, suggesting better hydrophobicity. Soaking test in water showed that antiswelling and water repellence efficiencies improved, especially in tar-treated wood. In addition, this type of treatment significantly decreased water absorption. It was also possible to decrease volumetric swellings. Thus, secondary treatment of HT wood with preservative, in particular with tar, improved dimensional stability and water repellency.
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| 9. |
- Ahmed, Sheikh Ali, Senior Lecturer, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Prediction of mechanical performance of acetylated MDF at different humid conditions
- 2020
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In: Applied Sciences. - Switzerland : MDPI. - 2076-3417. ; 10:23, s. 1-16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Change of relative humidity (RH) in surrounding environment can greatly affect the physical and mechanical properties of wood-based panels. Commercially produced acetylated medium density fiberboard (MDF), Medite Tricoya®, was used in this study to predict strength and stiffness under varying humid conditions by separating samples in parallel (//) and perpendicular (⊥) to the sanding directions. Thickness swelling, static moduli of elasticity (MOEstat) and rupture (MORstat), and internal bond (IB) strength were measured at three different humid conditions, i.e., dry (35% RH), standard (65% RH) and wet (85% RH). Internal bond (IB) strength was also measured after accelerated aging test. A resonance method was used to determine dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn) at the aforementioned humid conditions. Linear regression and finite element (FE) analyses were used to predict the MDF’s static bending behavior. Results showed that dimensional stability, MOEstat, MORstat and IB strength decreased significantly with an increase in RH. No reduction of IB strength was observed after 426 h of accelerated aging test. A multiple regression model was established using MOEdyn and RH values to predict MOEstat and MORstat. In both directions (// and ⊥), highly significant relationships were observed. The predicted and the measured values of MOEstat and MORstat were satisfactorily related to each other, which indicated that the developed model can be effectively used for evaluating the strength and stiffness of Medite Tricoya® MDF samples at any humid condition. Percent errors of two different simulation techniques (standard and extended FE method) showed highly efficient way of simulating the MDF structures with low fidelity.
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| 10. |
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