A Comparative Analysis on the Longitudinal Compression Characteristics of Juvenile and Mature Northeast Chinese Ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) Subjected to Alkaline Treatment

Abstract

Longitudinal compression can help wood form some folds on the wood cell walls after a suitable softening procedure. These folds can enhance the one- and multi-dimensional bending performances of wood. The longitudinal compression properties of alkali-treated juvenile and mature northeast Chinese ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) were analyzed. Elastic and elastic-plastic stages were inferred from the longitudinal compression curves. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that some folds formed in the wood cell wall vessels and fibers. X-ray microdensitometer test results showed a decrease in the fluctuation of the wood cell wall density of the specimens. The swelling and degradation or extraction of hemicellulose, lignin, and extractive occurred after alkaline treatment. Slippage between cellulose chains and curving within a cellulose chain were inferred during longitudinal compression. Juvenile wood specimens had higher modulus of elasticity and larger variability than mature wood after alkaline treatment. This finding can be attributed to the higher extent of degradation or extraction of hemicelluloses, lignin, and extractive, as well as the smaller microfibril angle and the similar cellulose crystallinity of treated juvenile wood compared to those of mature wood specimens after alkaline treatment.