Cement-Wood Composites: Effects of Wood Species, Particle Treatments and Mix Proportion

M R Garcez,A O Machado,D A Gatto,E O Garcez

doi:10.5923/j.cmaterials.20160601.01

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of wood species, particle treatments and mix proportion on the physical (density) and mechanical (compressive strength and dynamicmodulus of elasticity) properties of cement-wood composites. Different mix proportions were investigated, based on the cement: wood ratio of 0.3:0.7, in volume, with Pinus elliottii and Eucalyptus grandis sawdust percentages of 0-100, 25-75, 50-50, 75-25 or 100-0. Sawdust particles were pre-treated with either lime or cement coating to improve cement and wood compatibility. Results show that wood species, particle treatments and mix proportions may influence the physical and mechanical properties of cement-wood composites. In general, results confirm that Eucalyptus sawdust and cement are naturally compatible and do not require any previous particle treatment to avoid compatibility problems.

Highlights

Brazil is one of the five largest producers of industrial round wood with USA, Russian Federation, China and Canada
Two particle treatments were used: Cement coating [13], which consisted in mixing wet sawdust and cement, with a sawdust: cement ratio of 8:1in volume; Immersion of sawdust particles in a saturated lime solution [5]prepared with Calcium Hydroxide type CH II [14]
Blends of Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus ellioti sawdust led to intermediate values of density, intermediate to lower values of compressive strength and intermediate to higher values of dynamic modulus of elasticity

Summary

Introduction

Brazil is one of the five largest producers of industrial round wood with USA, Russian Federation, China and Canada. These countries produced in 2013 54% of total global production [1]. Plant biomass has already being used to produce engineering materials, encompassing technological and scientific aspects as well as economic, environmental and social issues [2]. The use of wood in cement matrix, in particular, has been investigated for more than one hundred years, whereas its industrial utilization has started later. Recent studies have investigated the use of wood waste as raw material for manufacture of many other composites such as wood-based panels, cement slabs and plastic-wood [4]

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Results

Conclusion