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Moisture behaviour and biological durability of high performance flax fibre reinforced composites
2017 - IRG/WP 17-40803
For natural fibre composites in structural and load bearing applications long reinforcing fibres are required. Therefore, much research is performed on flax fibre reinforced composites to optimize them for high performance use. In most cases such research focuses on the mechanical properties, yet the assessment of moisture behaviour, dimensional stability and biological durability is an important ...
N Defoirdt, J Van den Bulcke, F Bensadoun, J Ivens, I Verpoest, J Van Acker


Durability of energy efficient wooden buildings: a building physical point of view
2017 - IRG/WP 17-40812
The drive for more energy efficient and sustainable buildings resulted in an increased popularity of wooden buildings, even in countries with a masonry tradition. Often guidelines and prescriptions then are copied from other countries. Different climatic boundary conditions and tradition of finishing, though, do require different moisture tolerance criteria. This is clearly the case for water vapo...
S Roels, J Langmans


Testing of the resistance of acetylated wood against marine borers at three Italian sites
2017 - IRG/WP 17-30719
The aim of this research is the determination of resistance of acetylated wood against marine biodeterioration in use class 5 (EN 335) in temperate sea waters. The resistance of acetylated Pinus radiata (radiate pine) in solid and MDF form is compared with that of the untreated radiata pine and other untreated wood of European species such as Fagus sylvatica (European beech) Castanea sativa (chest...
S Palanti, M Faimali, D Tagliapietra, M Andrenacci, M Anichini, M Sigovini


Preliminary Investigation into the Natural Decay Resistance of Nigerian Grown Hevea brasiliensis and Mitragyna ciliata wood to Phanerochaete chrysosporium White-Rot Fungus
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10919
Wood is an important and versatile structural building material that finds applications in numerous uses. However, wood is also a biological material vulnerable to degradation by microbial activities; this is especially true in the tropics. Following the scarcity of highly durable species from our natural forests and the introduction of so many lesser used/durable wood species into the booming tim...
J M Owoyemi, U O Emmanuel


Wood chemistry completes natural durability as criteria for shorting best provenances in the improvement of teakwood quality: case of five provenances from Ivorian Séguié’s trial
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10920
In order to determine the best provenance for continuing breeding program in Côte d’Ivoire, five provenances of teak planted in 1970 at Séguié’s trial (Agboville, in the south of Côte d’Ivoire), were compared. Fifteen trees (three trees per provenance) composed the sample. Decay resistance and the chemical content especially, non-structural carbohydrates, total phenolics and quinone comp...
F B Niamke, N Amusant, A A Adima, A A Kadio, G Chaix, C Jay-Allemand


Understanding of the effect of ancestral and natural saltwater treatment on durability, fibers densification and chemical modification of palm wood
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10921
The palm-tree sector plays a very important role on both the socioeconomic and ecological levels, in Tunisia. There are three million trees in Tunisian palm plantations, ensuring a potential significant wood production, mainly in the craft and furniture industries. In the past, Date Palm wood (Phoenix dactylifera L.,) was also used as structural material. Its low natural durability and its low m...
M T Elaieb, A Namsi, M Tella, M-F Thévenon, K Chandelier


Impact of sapwood portions on the durability of adjacent heartwood of Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Quercus robur. Part 1: Laboratory studies
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10922
Sapwood is generally considered as non-durable and assigned to durability class DC 5 according to European standards independent from the wood species. It is commonly agreed that sapwood decays faster than adjacent heartwood, but it is controversially discussed whether sapwood serves as feeder material and thus accelerates onset and progress of decay in more durable heartwood or decays independent...
C Brischke, P Homann, A Gellerich


Use of x-ray microdensitometry for assessing the resistance to the fungus C puteana of a hybrid larches population
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10923
The aim of this research was to utilize the X-ray microdensitometry to determine the natural durability and its variability of a hybrid larch population. The method was applied on slices obtained by increment cores collected on standing trees before cutting them down. The methodology was discussed also in order to propose as a new screening method especially suited for trees populations. X-ray mic...
S Palanti, F Alderighi, F Stefani, J P Charpentier, L E Pâques


Assessment of the durability of a lesser known species (Borassus aethiopum Mart.) against termite and fungi from different ecozones in Nigeria
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10924
Scarcity of choice timber species in Nigeria necessitates research into alternative species. Efficient utilisation of alternative species such as Borassus aethiopum requires adequate understanding of their wood properties and within tree variations. However, information on potential of B. aethiopum as alternative to choice timber has not been adequately documented especially in the area of durabil...
O O Yekin, A R Ojo


Natural durability, ethanol-toluene extractives and phenol content prediction of eight wood species from Madagascar using NIRS multispecific models
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10926
Madagascar has nearly 4000 species of trees and shrubs, but wood properties of only 200 species have been studied. Some properties, such as the natural durability or chemical composition are of importance for adequate and optimal use of these timber species. Since durability tests take long time and chemical analyzes can be very expensive, alternative methods such as near infrared spectroscopy (NI...
A R Razafimahatratra, H Rakotovololonalimanana, M-F Thévenon, C Belloncle, G Chaix, T Ramananantoandro


On the natural durability of RED MERANTI for window frames as a function of gross density wood
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10927
MERANTI is a wood species belonging to the family Dipterocarpaceae, in the genus SHOREA (Shorea spp.). The genus has approximately 196 species with four subgenera. The subgenus RUBROSHOREA is commonly named RED MERANTI (RM) and is found on the Malayan Island of Sarawak, Indonesia, with approximately 65 varieties (Symington 1943). According to Brazier (1956), the distribution of gross densities wi...
K Hasse, W Unger, T L Woods


Study of the effect of extractives on the natural durability of Eucalyptus bosistoana wood
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10928
Wood as a natural material is degradable both by biotic deterioration agents (fungi, bacteria, marine borers, insects) and abiotic (UV and IR radiation, moisture, fire, etc.). The inherent resistance to the attack of the deteriorating agents is defined as the natural durability of the wood. This is an important property when considering the shelf life of wood products exposed to extreme conditions...
M Ibáñez, C Mantero, N Silva, F Resquín


Hibernation or spring awakening? – The research on wood durability and protection in marine environment
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10929
Wooden structures in marine applications are exposed to severe degradation conditions caused by mechanical loads and wood degrading organisms. The present paper presents the use of wood in marine environments in Europe from a wood protection perspective and gives an overview over relevant research topics. It compiles the most relevant literature with an emphasis on new wood protection methods and ...
A Treu, K Zimmer, C Brischke, E Larnøy, L R Gobakken, F Aloui, S M Cragg, P-O Flæte, M Humar, M Westin


Testing the durability of timber products above ground using the block-test method – A critical review
2018 - IRG/WP 18-20637
The block-test method for testing the durability of wood and wood products above ground is reviewed critically with respect to practical aspects, moisture loads, corresponding decay development, and the possibilities of assessing test specimens by determining the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn) of wood. In total, 36 blocks representing different modifications of the original set-up and a wi...
C Brischke, A Gellerich, H Militz


Towards durability classification of preservative treated wood – first attempts using different European standards
2018 - RG/WP 18-20638
EN 350 (2016) gives guidance on methods for determining and classifying the durability of wood and wood-based material against biological wood destroying agents. “Wood-based materials are those derived from trees and include amongst others: untreated wood, heat treated wood, chemically modified wood, glue laminated wood, wood-based panels, wood polymer composites and wood treated with wood prese...
S Bollmus, A Gellerich, C Brischke, H Militz


Above-ground testing methods – review of Rotorua, New Zealand test site results after ten years
2018 - RG/WP 18-20642
A series of seven different types of above ground durability tests were initially conducted over four years to determine which type of tests would give the fastest, most consistent results. Five types of test; ground proximity, two types of decking, flat panels and double layer, were reassessed after ten years. Exposure conditions varied between tests with ground proximity producing close to groun...
D Page, T Singh


Material Resistance and Chemical Composition of Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea)
2018 - RG/WP 18-20645
Relevant properties of stone pine (Pinus pinea) wood have been only fragmentarily addressed in the past, which has been recognized as a limiting factor for its potential applications. The amount of the respective wood species on the market will likely increase in the future. The sorption properties, permeability to water, extractives content and durability against fungi of Pinus pinea sapwood and ...
M Humar, M De Angelis, M Romagnoli, V Vek, I Poljanšek, P Oven, N Thaler, B Lesar, D Kržišnik


Resistance of modified wood to termite attack assessed in laboratory and field testing: A review of internal research
2018 - IRG/WP 18-40824
Within the past decades, new wood modification technologies have been investigated in order to improve certain wood characteristics and enable the use of timber products for outdoor applications. Some of these non-biocidal technologies have been developed and commercialized recently. Thus, various material properties were studied intensively and shown to be improved. To a great extent, previous re...
L Emmerich, P Gascón-Garrido, H Militz


Long-term performance of DMDHEU-treated wood exposed in ground, above ground and in the marine environment
2018 - IRG/WP 18-40825
Chemical wood modification with N-methylol compounds such as 1.3-dimethylol-4.5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) has been studied intensively since the 1990s. Research of the past years focused on treatment of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) and was shown to be applicable to improve specific material properties. A high resistance against wood-destroying ...
L Emmerich, H Militz, C Brischke


Improvement of short rotation teak wood properties through thermal modification
2018 - IRG/WP 18-40842
Teak (Tectona grandis L.f) is one of the most popular tropical timber species. Nowadays, the source of long rotation teak is limited in the availability. Many wood processing industries use short rotation teak, which has lower quality especially in durability and dimensional stability. Heat treatment is an eco-friendly method improving dimensional stability and durability of wood. The objectives o...
L A Pratiwi, I W Darmawan, B George, A Merlin, C Gérardin, S Dumarçay, T Priadi, P Gérardin


Polyesterification of wood using sorbitol and citric acid under aqueous conditions
2018 - IRG/WP 18-40851
The aim of this research is to determine if the polyesterification of sorbitol and citric acid in wood has a future potential as a wood modification process. Pine wood was impregnated with an aqueous solution containing citric acid and sorbitol and was thereafter cured at 103, or 140°C for 18 hours. The dimensional stability and leaching resistance were studied for both modification temperatures....
E Larnøy, A Karaca, L R Gobakken, C A S Hill


Identifying the fungal community on western redcedar (Thuja plicata) wood in field tests above and in ground contact exposure: preliminary results
2019 - IRG/WP 19-10939
Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is a high value species in the Canadian forest industry due in large part to the natural durability of its heartwood. Western redcedar heartwood contains extractives that are inhibitory to the growth of many fungi responsible for decay. In order to gain insights into which extractives are important in long term durability, and which fungi are important to decay of ...
A Dale, S Kus, R Stirling


Natural durability of four Tunisian Eucalyptus wood species and their respective compositions in extractives
2019 - IRG/WP 19-10942
In the 50’s, Tunisia government introduced more than 11 Eucalyptus wood species. Eucalyptus species were planted in Tunisia in different arboreta throughout the country for close observation and adaptation to climate and soil. These fast-growing wood species were mainly used as fire wood, for the production of mine wood and to fight against the erosion. These tree species were adapted themselve...
S Ben Ayed, M T Elaieb, S Dumarçay, B De Freitas Homen De Faria, M-F Thévenon, P Gerardin, K Candelier


Chemical defense of trees and wood natural durability: from protection to valorization
2019 - IRG/WP 19-10943
Natural durability of wood is defined as “the inherent resistance of wood against various wood-destroying organisms” (European standard EN 350-1). This property is due in particular to heartwood extractives. However, the wood natural durability is included in a wider defense system, and other organs such as bark and roots also host protective compounds. Studying the mechanisms on which global ...
E Houel, D Stien, N Amusant


Determining the natural durability on xylarium samples: mini-block test, wood powder and chemical profiling
2019 - IRG/WP 19-10944
Xylaria, or wood collections, can be considered sleeping beauties in terms of wood technological and biological output. In this study we focus on determining the natural durability of xylarium specimens from the Federal Xylarium in the Royal Museum for Central Africa. The Federal Xylarium contains over 80,000 specimens, covering more than 13,000 species, mainly from Central Africa. These specimens...
V Deklerck, L De Ligne, J Van den Bulcke, E Espinoza, H Beeckman, J Van Acker


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