Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of particle size and the wood/cement ratio on the physical and mechanical properties of vibro-compacted wood-cement composites. The effects of three different particle sizes (diameter between 1.4-2.36 mm; 2.36-4 mm; and 4-9.56 mm) and wood:cement ratios of 1:2.75, 1:2 and 1:1.5 on wood-cement composites produced with the Amazonia species Swartzia recurva Poepp. and Portland cement type II-Z were analyzed. All evaluated properties were influenced by the particle size used in the mixture; however, the wood:cement ratio only affected the final density of the composite, internal bond and water absorption properties. Composites produced with particles that pass through a 2.36 mm screen but were retained with a 1.4 mm screen showed average values of modulus of rupture and higher modulus of elasticity than composites produced with bigger particles. The use of a 1:2.75 wood:cement ratio resulted in composites with higher density and dimensional stability than composites produced with a lower amount of cement.
Highlights
Most Swartzia Schreber species occur in tropical regions of Central and South America, and can often be found in the Amazon region, its center of dispersion (Angyalossy-Alfonso & Miller, 2002). Steege et al (2006) reported that Swartzia genera is one of the ten most common in the Amazon region
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of particle size and wood/cement ratio on the physical and mechanical properties of wood-cement composites produced by vibro-compaction
Properties related to the material dimensional stability were influenced by particle sizes and the interaction between particle size and wood/cement ratio
Summary
Most Swartzia Schreber species occur in tropical regions of Central and South America, and can often be found in the Amazon region, its center of dispersion (Angyalossy-Alfonso & Miller, 2002). Steege et al (2006) reported that Swartzia genera is one of the ten most common in the Amazon region. Physical and mechanical properties make Swartzia recurva timber a potential material for the wood industry; this creates a new problem due to residue generation, as according to Pereira et al (2010), the average yield rate in the wood industry processes in the Amazon region is only 41%. Some variables of this new methodology raise questions due to the process particularities that usually do not occur in traditional wood-cement composite manufacturing using hydraulic presses. Examples of these variables are the ideal cement/wood ratio and the most viable wood particle size to be accommodated during the vibration process
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