| 1. |
- Källbom, Susanna
(författare)
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Characterisation of thermally modified wood for use as component in biobased building materials
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The building sector shows growing interest in biobased building materials. Wood components, here defined as ground or milled wood, i.e. by-products (residuals/residues) from wood processing, such as sawdust or shavings, are valuable raw materials for new types of durable biocomposites suitable for outdoor building applications. An important research question related to such composites is how to characterise and enhance molecular interactions, i.e. adhesion properties, between wood and binder components. Another challenge is the hygroscopicity of the wood component, which can lead to dimensional changes and interfacial cracks during exposure to varying moisture conditions. Thermal modification of wood reduces its hygroscopicity, thereby, increasing its durability, e.g. its dimensional stability and resistance to biodeterioration. The hypothesis is that the use of thermally modified wood (TMW) components in biocomposites can enhance their durability properties and, at the same time, increase the value of residues from TMW processing. The main objective of this thesis is to study and analyse the surface and sorption properties of TMW components using inverse gas chromatography (IGC), dynamic vapour sorption (DVS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the multicycle Wilhelmy plate method. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the surface and sorption characteristics of TMW components to enable the design of optimal adhesion properties and material combinations (compatibility) for use in biocomposites, especially suitable for outdoor and moist building material applications. Samples of TMW and unmodified wood (UW) components of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) heartwood were prepared and analysed with respect to surface energetics, hygroscopicity, liquid sorption and resulting swelling. The work also included analysis of surface chemical composition, as well as influences of extractives and moisture sorption history. The effect of using TMW components in a wood plastic composite (WPC) exposed to a series of soaking-drying cycles in water was studied with a focus on water sorption, swelling and micromorphological changes. The IGC analyses indicate that TMW components of spruce have a more heterogeneous surface energy character, i.e. a distinctly higher dispersive part of surface energy for low surface coverages, than do UW components. This is suggested to be due to the higher percentage of hydrophobic extractives present in TMW samples. Lewis acid-base analysis indicates that both UW and TMW components from spruce have a predominantly basic character and an enhanced basicity for the latter ones. Results show that both the hygroscopicity and water liquid uptake are lower for TMW than for UW samples. Unexpectedly, a significantly lower rate of water uptake was found for the extracted UW of pine heartwood than for non-extracted samples. In the former case, this is presumably due to contamination effects from water-soluble extractives, which increase capillary flow into wood voids, as proven by a decrease in water surface tension. Water uptake as well as swelling was significantly reduced for the WPCs with TMW and hot-water extracted UW components compared with the WPCs with UW components. This reduction also resulted in fewer wood component-polymer interfacial cracks in the WPCs with the modified wood components.
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| 2. |
- Ruponen, J., et al.
(författare)
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Tensile-shear strength studies on self-bonded 2-ply birch veneer joint manufactured and tested by applying Automated Bonding Evaluation System (ABES) hot press
- 2016
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Ingår i: WCTE 2016 - World Conference on Timber Engineering. - : Vienna University of Technology. - 9783903039001
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- An Automatic Bond Evaluation System (ABES) hot press was employed to manufacture a self-bonded joint between two veneers of rotary-cut birch (Betula pendula Roth). The hot-pressing conditions were 220 °C and 5.0 MPa, with press times ranging from 180 s to 600 s with 60 s intervals. Additionally, the log-soaking temperature (20 °C and 70 °C) and the veneer initial MC (6% and 11%) were varied to study the effect on the tensile-shear strength of the joints. For one set, the surface properties were altered by acetone extraction. The samples were tested at 11% MC. However, one set was partly duplicated and tested at 6% MC, to study how the testing conditions influenced the bond strength. The maximum average tensile-shear strength was 3.3 MPa, observed after 600 s hot pressing. The studies also included bond-line micromorphology analysis by applying SEM combined with a micromachining surface preparation technique based on UV excimer laser ablation. It was also indicated that longer hot-pressing times, lower veneer initial MC and a lower testing MC resulted in increased tensile-shear strength. Acetone extraction decreased the bond strength with increased standard deviation. Finally, the highest single and average strengths were observed for veneers from higher soaking temperature.
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