Academic literature on the topic 'Thermo-wood'

This research concentrates on the recyclability of two wood plastic composites (WPCs) - wood flour/HDPE and wood flour/PLA composites. Two different filler loadings (30 and 50 wt%) were considered for each polymer composite. Each composite formulation contained 3 wt% of a coupling agent, and was individually recycled up to six times by extrusion process. Samples for mechanical and thermo-mechanical tests were prepared by injection molding. All test results were statistically analyzed with a confidence level of 95%. Additional tests such as fiber length measurement, GPC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and SEM were also performed at specific reprocessing cycles. After reprocessing six times, all formulations showed lower relative decrease in most stiffness properties but higher relative increase in most strain properties. In strength properties, both HDPE composites showed lower relative decrease after reprocessed six times; however, higher and lower filler PLA composites showed sharp decrease reprocessed at second and six times respectively.

Les anciennes peintures sur bois représentent une part importante du patrimoine culturel européen. Depuis longtemps, il est connu que les conditions de stockage peuvent entraîner des dégradations et endommagements aux panneaux. Une bonne compréhension de l'état actuel des peintures sur bois ainsi que la prédiction de leur comportement dans diverses conditions climatiques est essentielle pour mieux les conserver et les restaurer. De telles analyses peuvent être faites par le biais de la modélisation numérique. Cependant, la modélisation numérique est efficace que si les paramètres des matériaux sont équivalents à ceux de la réalité. Dans ce travail, les modifications mécaniques, physiques et chimiques qui se produisent au cours du vieillissement naturel ont été étudiées pour le bois et les couches de peintures. Les possibilités d'accélérer le vieillissement par des traitements thermo-hydrique ont été appliquées avec succès au bois. Une loi de vieillissement du bois a été trouvée pour la résistance radiale et la luminosité de la couleur. Malheureusement, une tel loi n'a pas été trouvé pour les couches de peinture. Ensuite, un modèle numérique tridimensionnel sur le comportement hygroscopique et mécanique des panneaux peints a été développé. La comparaison entre ce modèle et des expériences sont en bon accord. Finalement, une analyse de risques sur une ancienne peinture a montré que des fluctuations d'humidité relative normales ne devraient pas promouvoir de dommages dans le support en bois, mais la fissuration de la couche picturale est possible<br>Ancient wood panel paintings represent an important part of the European cultural heritage. Since long time it is known that the storing condition can degrade and damage them. Understanding of the actual state of old panel paintings and the prediction of their behaviour under various climatic conditions is essential to better conserve and restore them. Such analysis could be done by numerical modelling. However, numerical modelling can achieved good predictions only if the materials parameters are adequately determined. In this work, the mechanical, physical and chemical modifications occurring during natural aging have been investigated for wood and paint layers. The possibility to accelerate the aging with thermo-hydro treatments has been successfully applied to wood. A wood aging law has been found for the radial strength and the lightness. Unfortunately, no such law has been found for the paint layers. The hygroscopic and mechanical behaviour of panel paintings has been then simulated in 3D by finite element method model including time dependent behaviour. The comparison between the model and experiments shows good agreement. Finally, risk analysis on an old painting shows that normal climate fluctuation should not promote cracks in the wooden support but the cracking of the ground layer is possible

Les bétons végétaux, composés de particules végétales et d'un liant minéral ou organique, constituent une solution à explorer pour limiter l'impact environnemental du bâtiment. Utilisés principalement pour leurs performances thermiques, ces matériaux suscitent l'intérêt de plusieurs organismes de recherche ainsi que de plusieurs entreprises industrielles. La généralisation de leur utilisation dans la construction ne sera pas possible sans résoudre certains problèmes liés à leurs techniques de mise en œuvre, à leur certification et à leur durabilité. Le présent travail a pour objectif de contribuer à la caractérisation de ces matériaux complexes. Il s'agit en particulier d'étudier les comportements mécanique, thermique et hydromécanique du béton de granulats de bois. La stratégie utilisée consiste à combiner l'expérience et la modélisation pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes mis en jeu. Le module de Young et la résistance en compression ont été mesurés expérimentalement à l'aide de la technique de corrélation d'images numériques. L'évolution de ces propriétés dépend des conditions de conservation, de la durée de séchage ainsi que de la teneur en ciment. En raison de l'orientation aléatoire des granulats de bois, le comportement mécanique du béton est isotrope. Un modèle d'homogénéisation basé sur le schéma autocohérent a été développé pour prédire le module de Young du béton et ses résultats sont très satisfaisants. Les mesures de la conductivité thermique montrent que celle-ci reste constante en conditions endogènes. La modélisation de cette propriété par le schéma autocohérent conduit à des résultats cohérents avec les mesures expérimentales. En conditions de dessiccation, la conductivité thermique dépend linéairement de la densité du béton. L'évolution de la conductivité thermique des granulats de bois et de la pâte de ciment au cours du séchage a été modélisée grâce au schéma de Mori-Tanaka. Ces évolutions ont été intégrées dans le modèle autocohérent qui fournit ainsi des résultats satisfaisants, mais qui pourrait être amélioré si l'on disposait des courbes de sorption/désorption des constituants du béton. Les variations dimensionnelles du béton au cours du temps dépendent des conditions de conservation, mais pas de la direction de mesure, ni de la teneur en ciment. Un modèle reposant sur une combinaison des déformations induites par la désorption de l'eau par des constituants et le transfert d'humidité entre ceux-ci a été proposé et a permis de capturer les tendances des déformations du béton sauf au jeune âge. À l'échelle locale, l'étude a montré que les déformations du béton sont du même ordre de grandeur que celles de la pâte de ciment. Elle a aussi mis en évidence un endommagement partiel de l'interface granulat/liant qui mériterait à être pris en compte dans la modélisation<br>Environmentally-friendly concretes, made up of plant-based particles and mineral or organic binder, are solutions worth exploring to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. Mainly used for their thermal performance, these materials have aroused interest of many research organisations and industrial companies. Their widespread use in construction is not possible without resolving some technical problems related to their implementation, certification and durability. This work aims to contribute to characterize these complex materials, in particular to study the mechanical, thermal and hydromechanical behaviors of wood-aggregate concrete. Modeling and experiments have been used to understand the complex mechanisms involved. The Young's modulus and the compressive strength were experimentally measured using digital image correlation. The evolution of these properties depends on the conditions of storage, the drying time and the cement content. Because of the random orientation of the wood aggregates, the material exhibits isotropic behavior. A homogenization model based on a self-consistent scheme was developed to predict the Young's modulus. The results were satisfactory. Measurements show that thermal conductivity remains constant under sealed conditions. The modeling of this property with the self-consistent scheme gives results consistent with experimental measurements. In desiccation conditions, the thermal conductivity depends linearly on the density of concrete. The evolution of the thermal conductivity of the wood aggregates and the cement paste during drying was modeled with the Mori-Tanaka scheme. These evolutions were integrated into the self-consistent model, which yielded satisfactory results, but could be improved if sorption/desorption curves of the phases were available. The macroscopic dimensional variations of the wood-aggregate concretes depended on the storage conditions, but not on the measurement direction, nor on the cement content. A model based on the combination of the strains induced by the desorption of water from the phases and the moisture transfer between them was proposed. It allowed us to capture the trends of the strains of our concrete except at early age. At a local scale, the study showed that the strains of concrete were close to those of the cement paste. The study also shed light on a significant damage of the aggregate/binder interfaces, which would deserve to be taken into account into the modeling

Dans le contexte du développement durable qui a vu l’introduction de la directive produits biocides BPD 98/8/CE, l’étude des méthodes innovantes de préservation du bois comme le traitement thermique revêt une importance prépondérante. Le traitement thermique du bois permet d’améliorer ses propriétés de résistance biologique, de stabilité dimensionnelle ainsi que son aspect esthétique, sans ajout de produit chimique. Les études actuelles sur la problématique de la qualité du bois traité thermiquement se focalisent sur les caractéristiques finales du bois déjà traité, l’influence des conditions de traitement ou encore l’effet essence. Les propriétés intrinsèques du bois avant le traitement ne sont pas encore prises en compte. Les propriétés du bois telles que la densité ou la composition chimique étant variables principalement sous l’effet de l’activité humaine comme la sylviculture, l’objectif de cette thèse était d’évaluer l’impact de cette variabilité chez le chêne sessile (Quercus petraea Liebll.) et le sapin (Abies alba Mill) sur leur modification par voie thermique. Un scanner et un micro-densitomètre à rayons X ont été utilisés pour caractériser la variation de la densité des échantillons de planches et des cernes de croissance provenant des arbres étudiés. Des traitements thermiques ont été réalisés dans un four pilote à conduction sous vide de type macro-thermobalance et un analyseur thermogravimétrique (ATG). Des analyses chimiques ont été également réalisées. Les résultats montrent qu’en prenant la perte de masse due à la dégradation thermique du bois comme réponse, les types de tissus du bois et la composition chimique influencent sa thermo-dégradation. Que ce soit chez Quercus petraea ou chez Abies alba, le bois de printemps était plus sensible au traitement thermique que son voisin de bois d’été. De plus, les portions radiales du tronc, du bois juvénile à l’aubier en passant par le bois mature, se dégradaient suivant des cinétiques différentes. En conclusion, la variation de la microstructure et la composition chimique de ces bois influencent leur cinétique globale de thermo-dégradation. La sylviculture impacte cette différence intraspécifique de cinétique de dégradation à l’échelle intra- et interarbre. En effet, dans le cas du sapin pectiné, une gestion très dynamique des forêts dans le but de stimuler la croissance rapide des arbres qui produisent de gros bois contenant des cernes très larges, est source de variation dans la structure anatomique et la composition chimique à l’intérieur des arbres en comparaison aux petits bois à croissance lente plus homogènes. Toutes ces analyses ont pour objectif final de comprendre le lien entre les propriétés initiales du bois et les modifications thermiques intervenant au cours du traitement afin d’apporter une information utile aux industriels lors du choix des pièces de bois destinées au traitement thermique en vue d’une amélioration de la qualité du bois traité thermiquement<br>In the context of sustainable development which has seen the introduction of the biocides directive BPD 98/8/CE in the EU, innovative wood preservation practices such as Heat Treatment (HT) become relevant. Wood HT, also termed wood thermal modification, is a physical modification technology by which wood is heated at around 200 °C in an inert atmosphere. The main purpose of the treatment is to improve the biological durability and dimensional stability of wood. Current studies on thermally modified wood (TMW) quality are focusing on treated material, on treatment conditions or on species effect on the end-product characteristics. Relatively little is known about the effect of intrinsic wood properties on its thermal modification. As wood properties vary especially under the influence of human activities through sylviculture, this thesis studied the effect of European oak and silver fir wood density and chemical composition on their thermal modification kinetic. An X rays computed tomography (CT) and densitometer were used to characterize wood samples. Boards were heat-treated by conduction under vacuum using a pilot furnace, whereas sawdust samples underwent thermo-gravimetric analysis under nitrogen. The analysis allowed finding intra- and interspecific variations, especially within growth rings and along radial direction (from pith to bark). Forest management impacted heat modification kinetic of the studied samples, especially in silver fir where fast grown wood was more sensitive to treatment. The finding will be used as additional information to the wood industry which will account for homogeneity of loadings destined to heat treatment

Dans cette étude, l’amélioration des propriétés physiques et de sa durabilité aux agents de dégradation biologique du hêtre européen (Fagus sylvatica) a été réalisée au moyen de différents traitements. Les premiers types de traitements sont basés sur l'imprégnation de dérivés vinyliques de glycérol ou de polyglycérol en tant qu'additif suivi d’une étape de modification thermique réalisée dans un réacteur ouvert (OHT) ou fermé (HPS). Le deuxième type de traitement repose sur la poly-estérification in situ du sorbitol et de l'acide citrique à différentes concentrations et températures de durcissement en système ouvert. Diverses propriétés de durabilité physique, chimique, mécanique et biologique des bois modifiés ont été évaluées. Les résultats montrent que certains traitements peuvent améliorer de manière significative les propriétés de durabilité physique et biologique du bois contre les agents de pourriture blanche, brune et molle et surtout vis-à-vis de l’attaque des termites comparativement au bois non traité ou modifié thermiquement uniquement<br>In this study, improvement of physical and biological durability properties of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) has been performed through different bulking impregnation treatments. The first modification was based on the impregnation of vinylic derivatives of glycerol or polyglycerol as additive followed with different thermal modification conditions in the opened system (OHT) or in the closed system (HPS). The second modification was based on the in-situ polyesterification of sorbitol and citric acid at different concentrations and curing temperatures in the opened system. Various physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological durability properties of the modified woods were evaluated, including certain properties during modification. The results have disclosed that certain treatments can improve significantly physical and biological durability properties of wood against decay (white rot, brown rot, and soft rot fungi) and termites attacks in comparison to untreated wood or thermally modified woods

Guadua angustifolia Kunth (Guadua) is a bamboo species native to South and Central America that has been widely used for structural applications in small and large-scale buildings, bridges and temporary structures. Currently, its structural use is regulated within seismic resistant building codes in countries such as Peru and Colombia. Nevertheless, Guadua remains a material for vernacular construction associated with high levels of manual labour and structural unpredictability. Guadua buildings are limited to two storeys due to the overall flexibility of the slender and hollow culms and its connection systems. Its axial specific stiffness is comparable to that of steel and hardwoods, but unlike wood, Guadua’s hollow structure and lack of ray cells render it prone to buckling along the grain and to transverse crushing. As a result, Guadua’s mainstream use in construction and transformation into standard sizes or engineered Guadua products is scarce. Therefore, this work focussed on the development of standardised flat industrial structural products from Guadua devising replicable manufacturing technologies and engineering methods to measure and predict their mechanical behaviour. Cross-laminated Guadua panels were developed using thermohydro-mechanically modified and laminated flat Guadua strips glued with a high performance resin. Guadua was subjected to thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) treatments that modified its microstructure and mechanical properties. THM treatment was applied to Guadua with the aim of tackling the difficulties in the fabrication of standardised construction materials and to gain a uniform fibre content profile that facilitated prediction of mechanical properties for structural design. Densified homogenous flat Guadua strips (FGS) were obtained. Elastic properties of FGS were determined in tension, compression and shear using small-clear specimens. These properties were used to predict the structural behaviour of G-XLam panels comprised of three and five layers (G-XLam3 and G-XLam5) by numerical methods. The panels were assumed as multi-layered systems composed of contiguous lamellas with orthotropic axes orientated at 0º and 90º. A finite element (FE) model was developed, and successfully simulated the response of G-XLam3 & 5 panels virtually loaded with the same boundary conditions as the following experimental tests on full-scale panels. G-XLam3 and G-XLam5 were manufactured and their mechanical properties evaluated by testing large specimens in compression, shear and bending. Results from numerical, FE predictions and mechanical testing demonstrated comparable results. Finally, design and manufacturing aspects of the G-XLam panels were discussed and examples of their architectural and structural use in construction applications such as mid-rise buildings, grid shells and vaults are presented. Overall, this research studies THM treatments applied to Guadua in order to produce standardised engineered Guadua products (EGP), and provides guidelines for manufacturing, testing, and for the structural analysis and design with G-XLam panels. These factors are of key importance for the use of Guadua as a mainstream material in construction.

In this research we are following the thermo-chemical degradation of wood in the absence of oxygen. The objectives are to evaluate the influence of heating rates on pyrolysis products obtained from wood pyrolysis and to evaluate the influence of acid pre-treatment on pyrolysis products. Depending on the wood heating rates, pyrolysis can be categorized as Flash pyrolysis, Fast pyrolysis, and Slow pyrolysis. We have evaluated the volatile products obtained at different heating rates and the volatile products obtained from sulfuric acid pre-treatment by using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We have also performed thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) of raw wood samples and sulfuric acid pre-treated wood samples of Yellow Pine to determine the changes in weight in relation to change in temperature. Our results indicated that by using the Flash, Fast, and Slow heating rates, the overall volatile products obtained from wood pyrolysis (i.e. the overall list of all the compounds obtained from different temperature ranges in wood pyrolysis by using different heating rates) were the same, but the volatile products obtained at different temperature ranges like Room temperature-300°C, 300°C - 400°C, and 400°C -500°C in Flash, Fast, and Slow pyrolysis were different. Most of the volatile products obtained from the pyrolysis of untreated wood were phenols. Our results also indicated that the pretreatment of wood with sulfuric acid alters the charcoal properties and releases gaseous products including furan derivatives that are useful as fuels or fuel additives. The sulfuric acid (10%) pretreatment of wood followed by slow pyrolysis produced maximum yield of charcoal, indicated by the lowest mass % decrease of 58.234. The production of furan derivatives increased by using sulfuric acid pre-treatment, which is a good improvement for the production of Furanics, the furan based biofuels. The furan based biofuels are of increasing research interest because of their significant advantages over the first generation biofuels. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated that the acid pre-treatment altered the decomposition rate of pyrolysis and lowered the onset of temperature for decomposition. The use of thermal degradation of plants for creating chemicals and fuels is seeing renewed interest across the globe as it is considered carbon-neutral and it uses a renewable feedstock. The information obtained from this research work will also be valued by industries, such as charcoal and activated carbon producers, which currently perform biomass pyrolysis, by allowing them to form approaches that optimize their energy use and minimize waste.

The reaction kinetics of Iroko and Mahogany were studied using TGA. The pyrolysis process was achieved using six different heating rates of 2,5,8,12,15 and 20˚C. A 15˚C/min heating rate was used for gasification in steam at different temperatures while varying the concentrations of nitrogen and steam in the process. The kinetic parameters, activation energy and pre exponential factor, were obtained by implementing two chosen kinetic models. These models are: Friedman’s Iso-conversional Method, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa Method (FWO). There were substantial differences in the values of the kinetic triplets found from the experiments. Due to the substantial differences in the values, it was not the best way to perform this kind of analysis (which is the traditional way) but instead to use pure regression analysis; but using it for the whole data set (that means for all heating rates) and minimize the difference with experimental data.