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Application of Wood Composites II

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2022) | Viewed by 34471

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Prof. Dr. Roman Reh

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, SK-960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
Interests: materials; fiberboards
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Dr. Ľuboš Krišťák

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, SK-960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
Interests: cellulose; wood-polymer composites; physics; materials; thermal properties; wood sciences; wood physics
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Prof. Dr. Petar Antov

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Forest Industry, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: wood technology; wood-based composites; eco-friendly wood-based composites; lignocellulosic composites; wood technology; wood sciences; bio-based adhesives; advanced formaldehyde-based wood adhesives; formaldehyde emission; formaldehyde scavengers; recyclable materials; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wood composites—that is, any wood material adhesive-bonded together—are key materials for a wide variety of applications, such as furniture, construction, etc. Wood composites range from fiberboards to laminated beams. The basic elements for wood composites are fibers, wood particles and veneers, varying in size and geometry, bonded together with an appropriate adhesive. Their characteristics and their variations provide the chief means by which materials are fabricated with predetermined properties. Thus, wood composites can be successfully engineered to meet certain requirements which makes them suitable for a number of end-uses.

This Special Issue entitled “Application of Wood Composites II” is focused on high-quality original research articles and reviews on topics including (but not limited to) the latest approaches in the development of wood-based composites, including reinforced composite structures, novel eco-friendly wood-based composites, wood plastic composites (WPC), advanced functionalities in laminates, activation of natural fibers, natural matrixes, and other industrial manufacturing research advancements in wood composite materials and their application.

After the successful Special Issue “Application of Wood Composites”, which collected state-of-the-art papers from prominent scientists and active researchers worldwide, a second part of the Special Issue is now available and open for submission.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Réh Roman
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ľuboš Krišťák
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petar Antov
Guest Editors

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Keywords

wood composites
fiberboard
particleboard
plywood
OSB
laminated beams
eco-friendly wood composites
lignocellulosic composites
reinforced composite structures
wood plastic composites
adhesive mixtures and their components
advanced properties
application

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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11 pages, 3466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Durability of Wood Treated with Nano Metal Fluorides against Brown-Rot and White-Rot Fungi

by Shirin M. Usmani, Linn Voss, Ina Stephan, Thomas Hübert and Erhard Kemnitz

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1727; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031727 - 8 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2444

Abstract

Low-water soluble metal fluorides such as magnesium fluoride (MgF₂) and calcium fluoride (CaF₂) were evaluated for decay protection of wood. Initially, the biocidal efficacy of nano metal fluorides (NMFs) against wood destroying fungi was assessed with an in-vitro agar test. The results from the test showed that agar medium containing MgF₂ and CaF₂ was more efficient in preventing fungal decay than stand-alone MgF₂ or CaF₂. These metal fluorides, in their nanoscopic form synthesized using fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis, were introduced into the sapwood of Scots pine and beech wood and then subjected to accelerated ageing by leaching (EN 84). MAS ¹⁹F NMR and X-ray micro CT images showed that metal fluorides were present in treated wood, unleached and leached. Decay resistance of Scots pine and beech wood treated with NMFs was tested against wood destroying fungi Rhodonia placenta and Trametes versicolor in accordance with EN 113. Results revealed that mass losses were reduced to below 3% in wood treated with the combination of MgF₂ and CaF₂. It is concluded that NMFs provide full protection to wood even after it has been leached and can be used as wood preservatives in outdoor environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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13 pages, 2327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fire Parameters of Spruce (Picea abies Karst. (L.)) Dust Layer from Different Wood Technologies Slovak Case Study

by Eva Mračková, Jarmila Schmidtová, Iveta Marková, Jana Jaďuďová, Ivana Tureková and Miloš Hitka

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(2), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020548 - 6 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1698

Abstract

The issue of the formation of wood dust particles in the work environment is still an actual topic in terms of its impact on employee health and the risk of fire or explosion in a woodworking operation. This article deals with the characteristics of spruce dust (Picea abies Karst. (L.)), which was taken from several types of wood technology. Experimental samples of spruce dust were taken from four types of sawing technologies, including grinding, briquetting and from the suction device container. The physical parameters of the samples taken were monitored and the particle size analysis was determined. The granulometric composition of the samples is significantly different. The sample of spruce wood dust from sawing has the most numerous fraction (250 µm), while the sample from grinding has the most numerous fraction 63–250 µm (87%).The aim of the paper was to monitor the minimum ignition temperature of the settled spruce dust layer and to look for a significant dependence of the minimum ignition temperature and ignition time on the type of spruce dust sample. A significant dependence was not confirmed. Significant moisture dependence of the samples was confirmed; the highest humidity was observed in the container, the lowest in sawing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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13 pages, 3091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sodium Iodide as a Contrast Agent for X-ray Micro-CT of a Wood Plastic Composite

by Dengcheng Feng, Michael Turner and Philip D. Evans

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010208 - 26 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3342

Abstract

The properties of wood plastic composites (WPCs) depend on their microstructure, particularly the level and geometry of wood reinforcement in the composite. We hypothesize that impregnating a WPC with a radiocontrast agent will increase the contrast between wood and plastic, allowing better visualization of its microstructure and numerical analysis of the geometry of its wood reinforcement. A commercial WPC was scanned using X-ray micro-CT, impregnated with aqueous sodium iodide, and then rescanned. CT data from both scans were visualized, and we analyzed the geometry of wood reinforcement and levels of wood, plastic, zinc borate (ZB), and voids in the WPC. ZB occurred mainly as discrete particles between wood flakes, and interfacial voids formed a network of cracks within the WPC. Sodium iodide labeling made it possible to clearly visualize wood and plastic in the WPC and quantify levels of different phases and the geometry of wood particles. However, sodium iodide was not an ideal contrast agent because it swelled wood particles, closed interfacial voids, and partially dissolved ZB particles. We suggest methods of overcoming these limitations and conclude that advances in labeling are necessary to improve our understanding of the relationship between the microstructure of WPCs and their properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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11 pages, 1759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Drying Temperature on Color Change of Hornbeam and Maple Wood Used as Surface and Inner Layers of Wood Composites

by Ivan Klement, Peter Vilkovský, Tatiana Vilkovská, Kazimierz A. Orłowski, Jacek Barański, Daniel Chuchala and Aleksandra Suchta

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10673; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210673 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1942

Abstract

The thermal treatment of wood changes its structure due to the degradation of wood polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin), so the physical properties of wood are either improved or degraded. Color changes apply not only to natural wood, but also to such wood composites for which some amount of glue is used in their construction (e.g., plywood, blockboard or laminboard). This article is focused on the analysis of hornbeam and field maple wood color changes influenced by drying temperature. Two types of drying modes were used: hot-air mode where the temperature of the drying environment was 60 °C, and high-temperature mode with a drying temperature of 120 °C. The drying mode was divided into two phases depending on the moisture content of the wood. The compared woods had similar values of color coordinates at the beginning of drying. During hot-air drying, the largest changes in color coordinates occurred during the first 24 h. The total color difference between the color at the end and the beginning of drying was 7.3 for hornbeam and 11.1 for maple. The overall color difference between the compared woods was minimal. During high-temperature drying (120 °C), the color changes of the dried woods were more pronounced. In the case of maple wood, there was a very significant change in color and the value of ΔE* was twice as high as for hornbeam. The total color difference between the color at the end and at the beginning of drying was 8.7 for hornbeam and 18.9 for maple. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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15 pages, 3621 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Performance of Filter Bags Used in Industrial Pulse-Jet Baghouses in Wood-Based Panels Furniture Factory

by Czesław Dembiński, Zbigniew Potok, Stanisław Dolny, Richard Kminiak and Tomasz Rogoziński

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 8965; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11198965 - 26 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2321

Abstract

The study specifies the value of the dust resistance coefficient in the process of wood dust filtration in a pilot-scale test stand. The experiments were carried out for one type of filter material—polyester with a PP film previously used in different production lines. Filter bags from the filtering installation of the processing line for narrow surfaces of furniture panels of the honeycomb structure with a chipboard frame, HDF, natural veneer cladding, and a line of CNC drilling machines, were taken into account. Before the pilot-scale tests, the bags had been in use in industrial installations from zero to nine months. All tests were performed under identical filtration conditions. The values of the dust resistance coefficient depend on the operating time and the conditions in which filtration is carried out in an industrial plant, and increased from 6507 s⁻¹ to 10,208 s⁻¹ for the bags from the filter of the narrow surfaces processing line and to 29,729 s⁻¹ for the bags from the filter of the drilling line. The most important factor influencing the properties of the filter bag in the process of wood dust filtration in an industrial filter is the cleaning pulses frequency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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9 pages, 2215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Marblewood Dust’s (Marmaroxylon racemosum) Effect on Ignition Risk

by Miroslava Vandličkova, Iveta Markova, Katarina Holla and Stanislava Gašpercová

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 6874; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11156874 - 26 Jul 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2004

Abstract

The paper deals with the selected characteristics, such as moisture, average bulk density, and fraction size, of tropical marblewood dust (Marmaroxylon racemosum) that influence its ignition risk. Research was focused on sieve analysis, granulometric analysis, measurement of moisture level in the dust, and determination of the minimum ignition temperatures of airborne tropical dust and dust layers. Samples were prepared using a Makita 9556CR 1400W grinder and K36 sandpaper for the purpose of selecting the percentages of the various fractions (<63, 63, 71, 100, 200, 315, 500 μm). The samples were sized on an automatic vibratory sieve machine Retsch AS 200. More than 65% of the particles were determined to be under 100 μm. The focus was on microfractions of tropical wood dust (particles with a diameter of ≤100 µm) and on the impact assessment of particle size (particle size < 100 µm) on the minimum ignition temperatures of airborne tropical dust and dust layers. The minimum ignition temperature of airborne marblewood dust decreased with the particle size to the level of 400 °C (particle size 63 μm). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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11 pages, 1404 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Fine Dust Creation during Hardwood Machine Sanding

by Marta Pędzik, Tomasz Rogoziński, Jerzy Majka, Kinga Stuper-Szablewska, Petar Antov, Lubos Kristak, Richard Kminiak and Martin Kučerka

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6602; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146602 - 18 Jul 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4291

Abstract

Wood dust generated during woodworking—particularly from hardwood species during sanding—poses a health and safety hazard to workers in the wood industry. This study aimed to determine the particle-size distribution of selected hardwood species and the content of fine particles in dust created during machine sanding, which pose the highest health and safety hazards in the woodworking industry. Six hardwood species were studied: black alder, European ash, common walnut, pedunculate oak, hornbeam, and European beech. The sieve analysis method was used to determine the particle-size distribution and article mean arithmetic particle diameter, and laser diffraction analysis was used to determine the finest particle content. Two size ranges were assumed: <2.5 μm and <10 μm. Beech dust had the smallest mean particle diameter. Dust from wood species used in the test had similar contents of fine fractions of particles. The average content of particles smaller than 2.5 µm in wood dust from the tested hardwood species did not exceed 1.9%. In terms of occupational exposure to wood dust, machine sanding conditions of hardwoods should be properly adjusted to limit the formation of large amounts of dust. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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20 pages, 2853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Line for Door Production TechnoPORTA—Technological and Economic Aspects of Application of Wood-Based Materials

by Zdzisław Kwidziński, Joanna Bednarz, Marta Pędzik, Łukasz Sankiewicz, Piotr Szarowski, Bartłomiej Knitowski and Tomasz Rogoziński

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4502; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104502 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2622

Abstract

Material losses are caused by the machining process and the manufacturing process, as well as the use of excessive dimensional allowances applied to the machined materials. An adequate reduction of the planned machining allowances for wood-based panel components is possible when the machining line is properly designed and equipped with high-precision machines and devices. The aim of the study was to determine the size of material savings in relation to the most important construction materials when implementing an innovative technological line for processing industrial doors made of wood materials. The achieved savings improve the competitiveness of the door manufacturer on the market. In order to calculate the material savings obtained in the production of the most important models of door leaves that can be obtained in machining on the TechnoPORTA line, numerical data were compiled specifying the dimensions of semi-finished products, taking into account machining allowances applied before and after reduction. The implementation of the TechnoPORTA line makes it possible to reduce the negative impact on the environment by reducing the consumption of wood. It reduces the consumption of materials and the operating costs associated with the reduction of labor intensity, the load on machines and devices, and inventory levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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13 pages, 2578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Some of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Particleboard Made from Betung Bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper)

by Lina Karlinasari, Prabu Setia Sejati, Ulfa Adzkia, Arinana Arinana and Salim Hiziroglu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3682; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083682 - 19 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3996

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate various physical and mechanical properties of experimental particleboard panels made from Asian giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper). Single layer panels having a density level of 0.75 g/cm³ from coarse and fine particles were used within the scope of this study. Thickness swelling, water absorption, surface roughness, and wettability characteristics of the samples were tested as physical properties while bending, internal bond strength, and screw withdrawal strength of the panels were considered for their mechanical properties. Resistance of the panels against termite and fungus were also determined. Based on the findings in the work both physical and mechanical properties of the panels made from coarse particles resulted in higher values than those made from fine particles with the exception of their internal bond strength. It appears that using fine particles in the panels enhanced their overall surface quality as well as wettability. Regarding biological deterioration of the samples, those made with coarse particles had better resistance. It seems that giant bamboo as a non-wood lignocellulosic species would have potential to be used as raw material to the manufacture value added particleboard with accepted characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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11 pages, 2253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Holographic Interferometry for Measuring the Effect of Thermal Modification on Wood Thermal Properties

by Áron Hortobágyi, Elena Pivarčiová and Pavol Koleda

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(6), 2516; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11062516 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1893

Abstract

The paper focuses on the use of holographic interferometry in the research of thermal modification and its effect on the heat transfer from the wood surface to the surrounding air. In the experiment, spruce wood samples modified at 160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C, 220 °C and an unmodified control sample were used. A radiant heat source was placed under the sample. The top of the sample represented the boundary where the observed heat transfer occurred. The temperature fields above the sample were visualized by real-time holographic interferometry and the heat transfer coefficient α was calculated from the obtained interferograms. During the heating of the samples, a decrease of the heat transfer coefficient was observed. The heat transfer coefficient of the control unmodified sample decreased from a maximum of α = 22.66 Wm^–2K^–1 to a minimum of α = 8.6 Wm^–2K^–1. In comparison with these values, the heat transfer coefficients of the modified samples treated at 160, 180, 200 and 220 °C, respectively, decreased to 99%, 93%, 68% and 51% of the maximal control value at the beginning of experiment and to 95%, 86%, 80% and 64% of the minimal control value by the end of the experiment. Moreover, an analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of the heat treatment effect on the heat transfer coefficient. A high significance (p < 5%) was observed between the control sample and the modified samples treated at 200 °C and 220 °C. Experiments with the use of holographic interferometry produced results consistent with previous studies conducted by different methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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21 pages, 2831 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fabricating Sustainable All-Cellulose Composites

by Eija-Katriina Uusi-Tarkka, Mikael Skrifvars and Antti Haapala

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10069; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110069 - 27 Oct 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6078

Abstract

Climate change, waste disposal challenges, and emissions generated by the manufacture of non-renewable materials are driving forces behind the production of more sustainable composite materials. All-cellulose composites (ACCs) originate from renewable biomass, such as trees and other plants, and are considered fully biodegradable. Dissolving cellulose is a common part of manufacturing ACCs, and currently there is a lot of research focused on effective, but also more environmentally friendly cellulose solvents. There are several beneficial properties of ACC materials that make them competitive: light weight, recyclability, low toxicity, good optical, mechanical, and gas barrier properties, and abundance of renewable plant-based raw material. The most prominent ACC applications are currently found in the food packing, medical, technical and vehicle industries. All-cellulose nanocomposites (ACNCs) expand the current research field and can offer a variety of more specific and functional applications. This review provides an overview of the manufacture of sustainable ACCs from lignocellulose, purified cellulose, and cellulosic textiles. There is an introduction of the cellulose dissolution practices of creating ACCs that are currently researched, the structure of cellulose during complete or partial dissolution is discussed, and a brief overview of factors which influence composite properties is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Wood Composites II)

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