Physical incorporation of particles in a porous media: a path to a smart wood

Abstract

The aim of this work is to develop a functional wood incorporating, in its surface, physical and chemical properties that meet society demand. For instance: fire resistance, magnetic electrical conduction (metal-wood particles), antibacterial reaction (copper-wood), anti-pollution (zeolite-wood), dry coloring, reflective effects (minerals-wood). As part of the research on wooden materials, the technique of “JAZOLTHOP” driving micrometric particles before combining them and moving in supersonic speeds was used in the framework of enriching a wooden substrate. Various tests were conducted on two wooden materials (fir and ash tree) submitted to four typologies of particles (steel shot, garnet, corundum and glass beads). The surfaces of the test samples were machined beforehand for a use of conventional smooth quality, thus defining a reference surface before incorporation. The enriched samples were characterized by using two optical techniques; firstly a surface technique through macroscopy Leica 110X ZP, then a volume technique through tomography. Subsequently, volume simulations (wood-inclusions) were implemented to study the thermal transfer. The obtained results showcase the existence of certain set conditions to reach the critical fluency of incorporation and to localize the enrichment on a parallel plan to the sample surface. The results show also the influence of particles concentration and the kind of the chosen wood on the final composite matrix/particle media.