Research Articles

The torrefaction of red oak (Quercus rubra) was performed in a pilot rotary kiln reactor, and the apparent kinetic results were compared with the results of torrefaction performed in a bench-scale fluidized reactor. Mass loss, gross calorific analyses, ultimate analyses, and proximate analyses were applied to the final torrefied material. The experimental torrefaction temperatures were 250, 275, 300, and 325 °C, and the experimental total torrefaction times were 20, 35, 50, and 80 min. A significant variation of the energy content occurred in the range of temperature between 275 and 300 °C, with the energy yield changing from 97.5% to 83.6%, respectively. The molar ratios H:C:O for the torrefied red oak presented a behavior independent of the experimental equipment when the temperature ranged between 250 and 325 °C. For the torrefaction process of red oak in the pilot rotary kiln reactor, a first-order reaction and one-step kinetic model were fitted with a maximum error of about 7.5% at 325 °C. The observed reaction rate constant (k) for the rotary reactor was 0.072 min^-1 at 300 °C, which was 71% lower than the reaction rate constant for torrefied red oak in a bench-scale fluidized reactor. Arrhenius analysis determined an activation energy of 20.4 kJ/mol and a frequency factor of 5.22 min^-1. The results suggest significant external heat and mass-transfer resistances in the rotary system.

A green wood composite material was developed from the two environmentally friendly substrates natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) and rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis). Natural rubber (NR) was introduced into rubber wood by pressurization of NR latex, followed by the removal of the aqueous phase to allow only dry NR to remain inside the wood structure. Scanning electron microscopy images and the weight increase of the dry impregnated samples revealed the retention of dry NR within the rubber wood. The natural rubber enhanced the water resistance and compressive strength of the treated rubber wood.

Soybean flour (SF)-based adhesives were prepared with either γ-amino, γ-glycidyl, or γ-methacryloyloxy-propyltrimethoxysilane (KH550, KH560, and KH570) silane coupling agents (SCAs) as an enhancer to explore the effect of SCA on the enhancement and mechanisms of the adhesive. Then, the shear adhesion, viscosity, solid content, and morphological properties of the modified SF adhesives were characterized in detail. The cross sections of the cured adhesives were evaluated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that KH560 was the most efficient SCA for improving the water-resistant bonding strength of the modified SF adhesive. With the addition of 3 wt% KH560, the water-resistant bonding strength of the sample was maximized at 0.98 MPa, meeting the requirements for interior plywood. The SEM revealed few holes and cracks, as well as a smooth surface, on the cross section of the cured KH560-modified SF adhesive, indicating that KH560 is a crosslinking agent that could enhance the water-resistant bonding strength of the resulting plywood. In the hot press process, the effects of hot press time and temperature on the water-resistant bonding strength of the adhesives were not significant.

The study of viscoelastic and mechano-sorptive creep on bamboo laminated veneer lumber (BLVL) and bamboo/poplar plywood (BPP) is described in this paper. Bending creep tests parallel to the grain were carried out on two bamboo-based composites for a length of 90 days. The specimens measured 500 mm × 20 mm × 12 mm. Based on the experimental data, the creep curves of two boards were evaluated. The results are summarized as follows: (1) the anti-creep property of BLVL was better than that of BPP; (2) ; and (3) compared with the creep curve in a constant environment, the creep deformation changed more dramatically under varying environment.

Eucalyptus plantation area has been increasing in Brazil, with 29% of the total plantation area being located in Minas Gerais state, which currently is being utilized primarily for charcoal production. However, diseases often increase the production costs of Eucalyptus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halsted on Eucalyptus wood for charcoal production. The basic density, volume, extractives, lignin, and holocellulose content of the wood were determined, as well as the gravimetric yield, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash, and gross calorific values of charcoal. The introduction of the fungus C. fimbriata to Eucalyptus decreased the wood production and holocellulose content, but it also increased the wood’s lignin and extractives content. The chemical changes in the wood did not affect the charcoal produced. Volume of wood losses due to C. fimbriata can result in a loss of up to 3478.43 US$/ha.

This research was conducted to study changes in mechanical properties due to mixing of old corrugated container (OCC) pulp with virgin neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) pulp. The OCC pulp was collected after removal of printing, glued parts, and unwanted additives. To prevent cutting of fibers, dedicated containers were broken down by hand before pulping. Handsheets with a base weight of 127 g/m2 were made by mixing the NSSC and OCC pulps at proportions of 60, 70, and 80 wt% of NSSC. Mechanical properties, including tensile strength, burst strength, tearing strength, corrugated medium test, and ring crush test, were evaluated using TAPPI standards. Addition of up to 30% OCC improved the tensile strength, tear strength, and burst strength of the handsheets significantly in comparison with the control sample (21, 25, and 59%, respectively). However, the corrugated medium test and ring crush test decreased by about 13 and 9%, respectively. The results of this study revealed that mixing 30 wt% OCC with NSSC yielded a higher quality paper.

Esterified kraft lignins (KL) were prepared by reaction with maleic anhydride (MA), succinic anhydride (SA), and phthalic anhydride (PA) in acetone solutions. The esterified lignins were characterized using ATR-FTIR, solid state CP-MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PA modification resulted in the highest weight gain percent (WGP) when compared to MA and SA modifications. Spectroscopic analysis revealed decreases in hydroxyl content and increases in carbonyl (C=O) and ester groups of the modified KL as a result of esterification. The hydrophobic properties of the modified lignin increased. The MA- and SA-modified KL showed an increased thermal stability compared to unmodified KL. PA-modified lignin presented distinct thermal decomposition stages, which showed rapid degradation at lower temperature. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to change the basic properties of kraft lignin by anhydride modification to facilitate the production of high performance composites.

In the past few decades, the use of glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP) to enhance the strength and stiffness of timber beams has been established. Research to predict the performance of structural timber is ongoing. Nondestructive evaluation of its dynamic performance and reliability are important. A nondestructive testing method based on fast Fourier transform analysis was used to establish the dynamic modulus of elasticity of GFRP-reinforced timber beams. The results were compared to those obtained via destructive measurements of the static modulus of elasticity using a regression analysis method. Significant correlations between the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE) and static MOE indicate that nondestructive testing is a suitable tool for practical use. Reinforced timber beams were designed based on the measured dynamic MOE. Orthogonal theories were used to analyze the effects of the thickness, glue application, and surface area of GFRP on the MOE of reinforced timber beams. Furthermore, the system reliability of GFRP-reinforced timber beams was predicted with a finite element model. The results showed that GFRP can significantly increase the reliability of structural lumber.

The bending stiffness of pulp fibers in both dry and wet states is of great importance with respect to many optical and physical paper properties. We introduce a method that evaluates fiber bending stiffness from the fibers’ Young’s modulus (E) and the area moment of inertia (I) from the fiber cross section. The values for E and I in the dry state are obtained from single fiber tensile testing and image analysis of the fiber cross section. The values for the wet state are estimated from literature results for decreasing elastic modulus due to wetting and by the measurement of swollen, freeze-dried fiber cross sections by serial sectioning. We show a comparison between the results from our method and the bending stiffness of individual fibers measured with other methods.

Lab-processed cellulose nanofibrils (CNF-L), commercial cellulose nanofibrils (CNF-C), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were used in this study as reinforcing materials in phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin. The mechanical modification of adhesives and cell wall layers (S2 and compound corner-middle lamellae [CCML]) by the three types of cellulose particles was investigated by nanoindentation. Results showed that cellulose nano-materials can improve the mechanical properties of both adhesives and the cell wall structure. CNF-C had the most obvious reinforcing effect on the elastic modulus (Er) and hardness within the glue line. With modification, the Er and hardness reached 13.0 and 0.436 GPa, respectively, in the S2 layer far from the glue line. In comparison, the control sample had an Er and hardness of 7.31 and 0.256 GPa, respectively.