Fast-growing Wood Species Research Articles

Characteristics of Fast-Growing Wood Impregnated Using Monoethylene Glycol and SiO Nanoparticles Against Fungal Attacks

Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) and Sengon (Falcataria moluccana) were fast-growing wood species widely planted in the community forest. Both kinds of wood have low durability even though they can potentially be used in the carpentry material industry. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the vacuum-pressure impregnation effect using monoethylene glycol (C2H6O2) or MEG and silica dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles on wood resistance to fungal decay. The results showed that impregnation treatment with MEG and SiO2 nanoparticles significantly improved the durability of Jabon and Sengon against fungal attacks. Furthermore, MEGSiO2 with 24-hour polymerization had a better impact on durability compared to both the control and MEGSiO2 with 12-hour polymerization. The 24-hour polymerization using 1% SiO2 nanoparticles resulted in the lowest weight loss for Jabon (5.86% ) and Sengon (5.21%). In addition, the variation of SiO2 nanoparticle concentration did not significantly affect the weight loss and durability of Jabon and Sengon against fungal decay.

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF DEPENDENCE OF SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSION ON HEAT RELEASE RATE FROM FAST-GROWING WOOD SPECIES

The aim of this paper is to create the model for prediction of carbon monoxide release rate (CORR) and smoke production rate (SPR) from heat release rate (HRR) of fast-growing wood species. The model is independent on wood species, thus is suitable for all fast-growing wood species. Three wood species hybrid poplar J-105 (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii A. Henry), white willow (Salix alba L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) were used for universal model creation. The heat release rate, smoke production rate and carbon monoxide release rate have been measured at three heat fluxes (25, 35 and 50 kW.m-2) by the cone calorimeter. The average values of CORR and SPR for all investigated wood species were 0.051 g.m-2.s-1 and 0.086 m2.m-2.s-1, respectively. Both dependencies of SPR and CORR on HRR have shown similar trends during the ignition phase (unstable trend) and during the intense burning phase (roughly linear increasing with HRR). The main difference was shown during the steady state phase (dependency of SPR on HRR is stable while dependency of CO on HRR is highly unstable). The results also proved a significant impact of wood density on these dependencies, thus, the neural network for prediction of SPR, CORR from HRR was applied. The coefficients of determination R2 for trained neural networks, for both SPR and CORR, were achieved in the range from 0.96 to 0.97

The Integration of Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Provides Insights into the Determinants of the Wood Properties in Toona ciliata.

Toona ciliata, also known as Chinese mahogany, is a high-quality and fast-growing wood species with a high economic value. The wood properties of T. ciliata of different provenances vary significantly. In this study, we conducted comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome analyses of red and non-red T. ciliata wood cores of different provenances to compare their wood properties and explore the differential metabolites and genes that govern the variation in their wood properties. Through combined analyses, three differential genes and two metabolites were identified that are possibly related to lignin synthesis. The lignin content in wood cores from T. ciliata of different provenances shows significant variation following systematic measurement and comparisons. The gene Tci09G002190, one of the three differential genes, was identified as a member of the CAD (Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase) gene family of T. ciliata, which is associated with lignin synthesis. Our data provide insights into the determinants of the wood properties in T. ciliata, providing a solid foundation for research into the subsequent mechanisms of the formation of T. ciliata wood.

Unlocking the potential of fast-growing species from Indonesia: durability and sorption aspects

Social or community-managed forestry has been promoted as an inclusive way of mitigating climate change, under the UNFCCC’s REDD+ programme (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation). Fast-growing wood species are little used as a community forestry resource in South-East Asia, although their potential could help to meet the surge in demand for sawn timber. In 2016, the Government of Indonesia aimed to hand over concession rights to 12.7 million hectares for community forestry, and support at the national level is currently strong. Although there is high demand for commercial plantation-grown species such as sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria L. Nielsen) and jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba Roxb.), the potential of other species, such as acacia (Acacia mangium Willd.), deserves to be explored. Paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud.) was also used in this study. Physiologically, fast-growing wood species differ from long-rotation hardwoods in their quality, i.e. their resistance to biodeterioration. In this study, the natural durability of the aforementioned fast-growing species was investigated by laboratory testing, using basidiomycete monocultures. Wood specimens were incubated with brown rot (Coniophora puteana) and white rot (Trametes versicolor) fungi for 16 weeks. Parameters such as mass loss, surface hardness, sorption properties, and anatomical characteristics after exposure to the fungi were determined. Sorption measurement times at high temperature were faster with lower hysteresis. Different relative humidity levels affected the changes in the total vessel area. The fast-growing wood species A. cadamba, P. falcataria, and P. tomentosa were classified as not very durable to non-durable, except for A. mangium, which was classified as durable. The data for specimens exposed to C. puteana were found to be highly variable. The remaining axial hardness of wood specimens incubated with T. versicolor was lower compared to C. Putanea. EDX observation (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) showed K as the major cation in decayed specimens.

Development of super dimensional stable poplar structure with fire and mildew resistance by delignification/densification of wood with highly aligned cellulose molecules

Wood is one of the most popular materials for construction purposes because of its environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. However, the use of wood is constrained by the lengthy time it takes for trees to mature. Consequently, fast-growing wood species have become popular as substitute options due to their ability to rapidly reach maturity and high yields. Although the problem of low density and strength has been effectively addressed in recent years by densifying wood, the problem of large thickness swelling due to moisture and water absorption has limited its application. Therefore, we reported an effective modification strategy to overcome the thickness swelling issue of densified wood by preparing a cellulosic reinforced material through the synergistic action of alkaline chemical pretreatment, multi-step cyclic impregnation and high-temperature densification. The results showed that the alkaline chemical pretreatment was effective for removing a large amount of lignin and hemicelluloses, creating a large number of hydrogen bonds among the remaining strong celluloses. The impregnated sodium silicate solution bonded celluloses tightly, and the densification treatment contributed to the production of Si-O-Si structure, forming the shuttle hybridized structure through Si-O-C bonds. The hardness, flexural strength, elastic modulus, and compressive strength of the modified wood increased by 3.9, 6.0, 3.4 and 28.2 times, respectively. In addition, 0 % thickness swelling for 30-day moisture absorption and 1.0 % thickness swelling for 72-hour water absorption were achieved, realizing super dimensional-stable poplar structures. Furthermore, the high-performance densified wood prepared by this method has excellent fire and mildew resistance properties, which lays the foundation for the application of fast-growing wood in outdoor engineering structures.

An Overview of the Current Situation of European Poplar Cultures with a Main Focus on Hungary

Among fast-growing wood species, poplars (Populus spp.) can be grown well. Thanks to their valuable wood, they also play an important role in the world. In Europe, regarding poplar forest areas, Hungary is ranked second, where the territorial proportion of poplars has not changed in the past ten years, and currently, two-thirds of them are constituted by two species. The proportion of grey poplar (P. × canescens) is 42%, while the proportion of ’Pannonia’ hybrid (P. × euramericana cv. Pannonia) is 22%. With regard to gross wood production, they are second after black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and their standing tree volume is significant for up to 30 years of age. The average age of hybrid poplars is 21 years, while that of the natives is 26 years. Its wood is used by the packaging industry (pallets and boxes) and the furniture industry (700,000 m3), the plywood industry (200,000 m3), and the fiber industry (300,000 m3), but it is also an important source for energetic purposes (150,000 m3).

Enhancing wood stability and fire retardancy through citric acid and phosphorylated sucrose stearate cross-linking modification

Citric acid (CA) is commonly used as a green and cost-effective crosslinker to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of fast-growing wood species. However, the flammability of CA-treated wood remains high and hinders its use in areas where fire resistance is critical. Therefore, it is essential to find a sustainable and efficient fire retardant that can be combined with CA to prepare wood with exceptional overall performances. In this study, we synthesized phosphorylated sucrose stearate (SUP) and used it to modify poplar wood together with CA, creating a cross-linking network. The resulting wood’s physical, mechanical properties, and fire resistance were evaluated while analyzing CA-SUP network’s fire-retardancy mechanism. Results have demonstrated that successful cross-linking modification was achieved through esterification, resulting in improved dimensional stability and water resistance. Furthermore, SUP has been found to homogenously disperse in the wood structure, reducing the degree of cell wall damage caused by the CA treatment, while further enhancing the water resistance and MOE of wood. Whilst the CA treatment improved the thermal stability of wood, it resulted in a dramatic release of smoke when the CA-treated wood was flamed. However, the addition of a small quantity of SUP, specifically in the CA-SUP-5% sample, was able to increase the limited oxygen index and promote quick extinguishing when flamed. Notably, compared to the CA-treated wood, the heat release rate and smoke production rate of the CA-SUP-5% sample reduced remarkably by 38.5% and 71%, respectively. The exceptional fire retardancy and smoke suppression were achieved through the synergy of CA and SUP, as they dehydrated, decarboxylated, and catalytically carbonized, promoting the release of water and CO2, thus diminishing the release of CO and generating dense char residue. Consequently, this study presents a sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient method to prepare high-quality wood.

Fast-Growing Wood-Polymer Nano Composite Characteristics through Nano-SiO2 Impregnation

Ganitri (Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Gaertn.) K. Schum.) and jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) are fast-growing wood species that have low strength and durability class. One of methods for improving the characteristics of ganitri and jabon woods is impregnation. This study objectives were to analyze the effect of impregnation of Melamine Formaldehyde Furfuryl Alcohol (MFFA) copolymer and 0.5% Nano-SiO2 on the physical, mechanical and durability properties of ganitri and jabon woods. The impregnation process was carried out by applying a 0.5 bar vacuum for 1 hour and followed by 2 bar pressure for 2 hours. The results showed that impregnation with MFFA and Nano-SiO2 could improve optimally the physical and mechanical properties and durability of fast-growing woods

Quality characteristics of the selected variant of Paulownia tomentosa (Robust4) wood cultivated in Hungary

Besides the continuously increasing demand for wood, the significant increase in its price also contributes to the increasingly broader use of fast-growing wood species and cultivars. Newer variants are continue to be cross-bred as a result. In case of a new variant within a species, it is questionable how it would adapt to a particular climatic environment and the quality of wood it would yield. The characteristics of the Paulownia tomentosa (Robust4) wood obtained from Hungarian plantations of are generally identical to those of the Paulownia tomentosa. The value of the air dry density - as typically for paulownia species- are very low i.e. 273 kg/m3. Its strength values (compressive strength: 9,6 MPa; tensile strength: 39,3 MPa; bending strength: 41,7 MPa; modulus of elasticity: 4116 MPa; impact bending strength: 1,4 J/cm2) also reach, and in some cases, exceed those of the Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. and the Paulownia Clone in vitro 112 variant. Based on these, we can expect the same wood quality from the Robust4 version as from the other paulownia variants.

Influence of Densification Treatment on The Morphology and Density Profile of Paraserianthes falcataria Laminas

Fast-growing wood species have a limited range of applications due to their low density. Despite that, densification technology can be applied to improve its density. In this study, laminas from Paraserianthes falcataria, a low-density wood species, were subjected to viscoelastic- thermal compression (VTC), a densification treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different pre-steaming durations in the densification treatment on the cell lumen deformation and density profile of Paraserianthes falcataria laminas. The laminas were pre-steamed with different durations ranging from 0–30 min, compressed with heat, and cooled down. For cell lumen area measurement, laminas pre-steamed for 30 min had the lowest cell lumen area, where the decrease in the lumens contributed to an enhancement in density. The finding from the density profile measurement indicated that densification treatment had enhanced the density of the laminas by up to 50%, whereby laminas pre-steamed for 10 min achieved the highest density.

The Effect of GFRP Wrapping on Lateral Performance of Double Shear Lap Joints in Cross-Laminated Timber as a Part of Timber Bridges

Timber elements, such as timber bridges, are exposed to heavy loads. Therefore, reinforcement might be useful. Due to a lack of wood supplies, poplar, a fast-growing tree, could be used to construct CLT (cross-laminated timber). The low density of fast-growing wood species directly impacts the mechanical properties of CLT. Therefore, in this study, a CLT panel was reinforced with GFRP (glass-fiber-reinforced polymer), and the lateral resistance of double shear lap joints in reinforced CLTs with 0-90-0° arrangements in two strength directions was investigated. Lag screws (Ø = 8 mm) at the end distances of 1 and 3 cm were employed for making the lateral test specimens. First, the effect of the number of GFRP layers on lateral resistance of the joints was investigated. The results revealed that, as the number of GFRP layers changed from one to three, the lateral resistance increased by 45.47%, and then, by four layers, it decreased by 1.3%. Since the joints with three layers of FRP had the highest strength, the effects of the end distance and the CLT panel strength directions on the lateral performance of the reinforced and non-reinforced specimens were investigated. The results indicated that the lateral resistance of reinforced CLTs with GFRP was about 26.5% more than the unreinforced ones. Moreover, CLTs in the major strength direction showed 4.2% more lateral resistance than those in the minor strength direction. Moreover, lag screws at the end distance of 3 cm had 60% more lateral resistance than those at the end distance of 1 cm. In terms of failure modes, bearing, shear, and net-tension modes were observed in the CLTs, while Is, IIIs, and IV modes were observed in the lag screws.

Preparation and Characterization of Wood Scrimber Based on Eucalyptus Veneers Complexed with Ferrous Ions.

Wood-based products manufactured from fast-growing wood species such as eucalyptus have gained increasing attraction with the demand of using wood in architecture, furniture, and decoration. In this paper, a new type of wood scrimber based on eucalyptus veneers complexed with ferrous ions was prepared and its properties were characterized. The results showed that the presence of complexes did not affect the mechanical properties of eucalyptus wood scrimber, but made its surface more hydrophobic (contact angle increased by 38.48% and dimensional stability improved (thickness swelling rate decreased by 32.26%). Most importantly, the color of eucalyptus wood scrimber changed significantly, from the original brown to dark blue, and its anti-photoaging property also greatly improved. These advantages would make this type of wood scrimber based on the eucalyptus veneer complexes with ferrous ions more widely applicable in decorations and buildings.

Effect of Acetylation on the Physical and Mechanical Performances of Mechanical Densified Spruce Wood

Inherent drawbacks (e.g., loose structures, dimensional instabilities, and poor mechanical performances) restrict the applications of fast-growing wood species. In this study, a thermal compression treatment was carried out to densify acetylated spruce wood. The aim of acetylation was to improve the plasticity and water resistance of spruce wood. The water absorption, set-recovery, surface hardness, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and microstructure of the resulting wood were analyzed. The results show that acetylation can improve the plasticity of wood and reduce the interaction between wood and water, significantly reducing the set recovery of the compressed wood. When the water immersion time reaches 168 h, the water absorption rate of wood is reduced by 37% after acetylation, and the densification can further reduce the water absorption (55% for AD-40 and 70% for AD-60). The hardness of the densified wood is significantly higher than that of control wood and increases with the increase of the compression ratio. The cell wall of acetylated wood is thicker than that of control wood, which could increase the compression density of the wood. As a result, the hardness and MOR of acetylated densified wood are remarkably higher than that of unacetylated densified wood. However, a high compression ratio (60%) could lead to structural damage and, thus, reduce the mechanical properties.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Paulownia tomentosa x elongata Sawn Wood from Spanish, Bulgarian and Serbian Plantations

The aim of this research is the characterization of physical and mechanical properties of Paulownia sawn wood from three plantation sites in Europe, namely Spain, Bulgaria and Serbia. As a fast-growing wood species, Paulownia has a significant positive forecast for the European markets and a wide range of possible applications that still need to be explored. For this purpose, Paulownia tomentosa(Tunb.) x elongata(S.Y. Hu) wood species was investigated. Sorption behaviour, Brinell hardness, 3-point bending strength, flexural modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, compressive strength and screw withdrawal resistance were examined in detail. The samples from Spain have the higher average bulk density (266 kg/m3), 3-point flexural strength (~40 N/mm2), 3-point flexural modulus of elasticity (~4900 N/mm2), compressive strength (~23 N/mm2), tensile strength (~44 N/mm2) and screw withdrawal resistance (~56 N/mm). The plantation wood from Bulgaria has the highest average of annual ring width (46 mm). Paulownia wood has potential in lightweight applications and can replace successfully expensive tropical species as Balsa.

The Influence of High-Temperature and -Pressure Treatment on Physical Properties of Albizia falcataria Board

Albasia (Albizia falcataria), known as sengon wood, is a fast-growing tree species commonly found in Indonesian forests and community plantations. However, the low-density, hardness, and strength significantly restrict its commercial application. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of densification on the physical properties of Albizia falcataria under high-temperature and -pressure. Different temperatures were applied to the Albizia falcataria board (100 °C, 120 °C, 140 °C, sandwich 140 °C). The densification process influences the density properties, color changes, thickness, compression ratio, equilibrium moisture content, and anatomical properties of the material. With this procedure, the density can be increased to 0.62 kg/L, a gain of approximately 112.78% over untreated wood. The density of wood increases, resulting in the decomposition of its chemical components, especially hemicellulose, which darkens the wood color and stabilizes equilibrium moisture control. As a result, the thermal compression modification treatment under high-temperature and -pressure is a highly effective method for enhancing the physical properties of fast-growing wood species, such as Albizia falcataria.

Characteristics of impregnated wood by nano silica from betung bamboo leaves

, Sengon (Falcataria moluccana Miq.) as a fast-growing wood species that has low quality. Therefore, wood modification is needed to improve its wood qualities. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and nano silica of betung bamboo leaves impregnation treatment on physical, mechanical properties and durability of sengon wood. 5-years-old Sengon wood from community forest, MEG and nano silica (average size = 436.16 nm) from betung bamboo leaves were used. The impregnation solutions were consisted of water treated (untreated), MEG, MEGSilika 0.5% and MEGSilika 1%. Impregnation process with 0.5 bar (60 minutes) vacuum and 2.5 bar (120 minutes) pressure. Physical properties (density and colour alteration), mechanical properties (Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and hardness) and durability against subterranean (Coptotermes curvignathus) attack. The results showed that the weight percent gain (WPG) and density of treated Sengon wood were increased as the nano silica concentration increased. While colour alteration (Δε) of treated samples were declining. Mechanical properties (MOE, MOR and hardness) were also improved. Durability based on laboratory tested against subterranean attack resulted that the percentage of termite mortality from the treated samples increased, while the percentage of weight loss decreased.

Wettability and Treatability of Sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) I.C. Nielsen) wood from NTB

The supply of wood from natural forests is decreasing as a result of the imbalance between harvesting and planting. The lack of wood supply from natural forests has resulted in relatively expensive wood prices. This can be anticipated by using fast-growing wood species. One type of fast-growing wood which is very abundantly available in NTB is sengon wood (Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) I.C. Nielsen). However, sengon wood has low durability so it is easily attacked by wood-destroying organisms. This condition can be overcome by making efforts to prevent wood damage in the form of preservation. This study aims to determine the wettability and treatability properties of sengon wood. The results of this study are expected to be basic information to improve the quality of sengon wood. The wettability test was carried out by measuring the contact angle between the liquid and the sample surface using the sessile drop method and the wood durability testing was carried out by measuring the retention and penetration of preservatives. The treatability test was carried out by measuring the absorption, retention, and penetration of preservatives. The results showed that the wettability of sengon is high with an equilibrium contact angle (θe) of 16.88 in the radial section and 12.51 in the tangential section. This shows that sengon wood has a good adhesion system for preservation. Treatability of sengon wood showed that the average retention and penetration are 10,21 kg/m3 and 7,33 mm. Based on the results of these measurements, sengon wood has met SNI 03-5010.1-1999 (wood preservation for housing and buildings).

Color Change and Physical-Mechanical Properties of Polystyrene-Impregnated Glulam from Three Tropical Fast-Growing Wood Species

The aims of this work were to determine the color change and physical–mechanical properties of polystyrene glulam from three tropical wood species. Wood laminas were cut from logs harvested from a young plantation forest of manii (Maesopsis eminii), mangium (Acacia mangium), and rubber-wood (Hevea brasiliensis). The laminas were impregnated with monomer styrene that was polymerized using potassium peroxy-disulfate as a catalyst and heat. Three-layer glulam was constructed from the polystyrene laminas, using isocyanate glue and cold press. For comparison purposes, three-layer untreated glulam and solid wood samples were prepared. The results showed that the color change of polystyrene glulam was very small compared with untreated glulam. Polystyrene glulam had the highest density, while the density of untreated glulam did not differ from that of the solid wood. The moisture content of all products was matched to the environment, and fulfilled the Japanese standard. Compared with both types of glulams, solid wood had lower values for modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and hardness, but higher shear strength. Meanwhile, polystyrene glulam had lower values for MOR and MOE, equal shear strength and wood failure, and higher hardness than the untreated glulam. All glulams had very little delamination in the hot water test. Only rubber-wood glulams fulfilled JAS 234-2003 for MOR, MOE, shear strength, and delamination. To obtain adequate physical–mechanical properties of glulams, medium-density wood is recommended for glulam manufacturing.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE OIL-HEAT TREATED WOODS FROM TROPICAL FAST GROWING WOOD SPECIES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oil-heat treatment on the anatomical, physical, and chemical properties of the tropical fast-growing wood species as gmelina (Gmelinaarborea) and mindi (Melia azedarach) wood. Vessel lumen area and diameter in radial and tangential direction of both species increased with increasing temperature. The fiber lumen areas in both woods were remarkably decreased by oil-heat treatment, and the fiber wall area increased considerably with increasing temperature. Both woods tended to gain weight after heat treatment at 180°C and 200°C, and then lose weight after heat treatment at 220°C. The density of mindi increased greatly at 180°C and 200°C and slightly decreased at 220°C. The dimension of the specimens in tangential direction increased with heat treatment, but the rate decreased with increasing temperature. The relative crystallinity and crystallite width of the heat-treated woods were greater than those of the untreated wood. In the Fourier transform infrared analyses, the peaks from the carbohydrates were changed after oil-heat treatment, mainly due to the degradation of hemicellulose. Consequently, it was revealed that the heat treatment affected various properties of gmelina and mindi woods. Differing characteristics between the species were also noted.

Investigation of the adhesion performance of some fast-growing wood species based on their wettability

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the adhesion performance of eight fast-growing wood species, namely, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Paraserianthes falcataria, Shorea sp., Toona sinensis, Gmelina arborea, Pinus merkusii, Acacia mangium, and Acacia hybrid obtained from the tropical region. The wettability test was conducted by contact angle measurement, while the adhesion performance was expressed by strength retention (SR) and wood failure (WF) percentages through block shear tested under the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS). Results showed that smaller contact angle for P. falcataria followed by E. cyclocarpum, P. merkusii, T. sinensis, and Shorea indicated that the surfaces were easier to be glued than that of G. arborea, A. mangium, and A. hybrid. It is indicated that high wettability of P. falcataria, E. cyclocarpum, P. merkusii, T. sinensis, and Shorea resulted in the better adhesive spread and more intimate contact between the wood surface and the adhesive as shown by their high SR with high WF percentages.