Abstract
Recently, the plywood industry has been using low-molecule phenol (LMP) to enhance the dimensional stability of inferior-quality wood, along with copper naphthenate to increase veneer durability against staining fungi as a wood preservative. Non-destructive X-ray microtomography is a promising visualization method for reviewing the distribution of these materials. This study aimed to determine the applicability of X-ray microtomography for observing the distribution of LMP and Cu in two-and three-dimensional visualizations. The distribution mechanisms of these materials were investigated using X-ray images and image plot profiles. Six hardwood (wood from broad-leaved trees) and one softwood (wood from conifer trees) species were used for the experiments. An impregnation process was used to treat the wood samples with LMP, and copper naphthenate was added by dipping the wood in the compound for 1 s. A 10 mm2 sample of each wood species was scanned using X-ray microtomography, and the distribution of LMP and Cu was successfully visualized using X-ray microtomography with the same settings. The LMP was displayed approximately evenly throughout the veneer, whereas the copper naphthenate existed mainly on the veneer surface. The X-ray images successfully showed penetration at the microscopic scale.
Highlights
The plywood industry has been using low-molecule phenol (LMP) to enhance the dimensional stability of inferior-quality wood, along with copper naphthenate to increase veneer durability against staining fungi as a wood preservative
The same X-ray microtomography setting is relevant for observing the LMP and Cu in species with different types of wood
Size changes were observed in the treated wood samples, and the tyloses, octahedral crystal, and silica in certain varieties, and the LMP and Cu materials concentrated in the wood vessel were successfully visualized in 2D and 3D images
Summary
The plywood industry has been using low-molecule phenol (LMP) to enhance the dimensional stability of inferior-quality wood, along with copper naphthenate to increase veneer durability against staining fungi as a wood preservative. Non-destructive X-ray microtomography is a promising visualization method for reviewing the distribution of these materials. A 10 m m2 sample of each wood species was scanned using X-ray microtomography, and the distribution of LMP and Cu was successfully visualized using X-ray microtomography with the same settings. Instruments are needed for quality control of the LMP and copper naphthenate treated veneer to determine the distribution of those materials without wasting the tested material. X-ray microtomography could be a promising method for non-destructive testing to measure and visualize the micro-distribution of LMP and copper naphthenate with high resolution and three-dimensional (3D) images without damaging the wood[7,8,9]. The penetration phenomena are affected by the atomic number of the reagent added to the wood, and by its concentration, which can be visualized clearly using X-ray m icrotomography[12]
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