Your search resulted in 230 documents. Displaying 25 entries per page.
Assessing the nutrient value of bio-based materials in relation to early fungal growth
2017 - IRG/WP 17-20631
Bio-based materials are gaining importance in the building industry, as the focus on sustainability and life-cycle-assessment has increased dramatically over the last decade. Wood and wood-engineered products as well as insulation materials made from flax, hemp, etc. are hence increasingly used. These materials originate from renewable resources and are often biodegradable, which can cause problem...
L De Ligne, J Van den Bulcke, J Baetens, B De Baets, J Van Acker
Impact of temperature and relative humidity on spatio-temporal fungal growth dynamics of Basidiomycetes
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10905
Basidiomycetes can cause considerable damage to wood and other bio-based building materials. Knowing at which environmental conditions these decay fungi generally thrive, and how the environmental conditions affect fungal growth characteristics, is therefore of particular interest. In this paper, we use image analysis to assess the impact of the environmental conditions on the growth dynamics of C...
L De Ligne, G Vidal-Diez de Ulzurrun, J Van den Bulcke, J M Baetens, B De Baets, J Van Acker
Protocol of intervention against subterrranean termites in urban areas
2018 - RG/WP 18-20640
Subterranean termites are a problem of Mediterranean countries since their climatology favours their development. In Spain, termite attack is very important in cultural heritage and even in new construction, as they can cause serious damage to structural elements (pillars, beams, decks, etc.), carpentry (doors, windows, etc.) and wooden goods (furniture, paintings, libraries, etc.), causing not on...
J Galván, D Lorenzo, C Villagrá, L Robertson, R Viñambres, M T Troya
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
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
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
Exploring the use of X-ray micro CT as a tool for the monitoring of moisture production and mass loss during lab-based fungal degradation testing
2019 - IRG/WP 19-20654
Bio-based building materials, such as wood and wood-engineered products, are susceptible to degradation by decay fungi. In-depth knowledge on the intricate material-fungus relationship as well as performance data for many bio-based building materials are still lacking, and especially knowledge on how a material’s structure and moisture properties affect the degradation process is missing. Althou...
L De Ligne, J Van den Bulcke, A De Muynck, J M Baetens, B De Baets, L Van Hoorebeke, J Van Acker
Efficacy of microwave treatments against Pine Wood Nematode
2019 - IRG/WP 19-20658
The pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle (PWN) is the causal agent of “Pine wilt disease” affecting coniferous forests, and since its detection in 1999 in Portugal, has obliged the European Union to take action to prevent its spread (Decision 2006/133/CE). One of the main measures applied is the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures ISPM No. 15 ...
L Robertson, M T Troya, F Llinares, J C Cabrero
Application of nano metal fluorides against termites
2019 - IRG/WP 19-30733
Recent research has shown that fluorides such as NaF have potential as a wood preservative against termite attack (Pan and Wang, 2015). However, NaF has high leaching susceptibility because of its solubility (40 g/l ) which can reduce its efficacy over long term. Metal fluoride nanoparticles such as MgF2 and CaF2 present a viable alternative to water soluble fluoride-based wood preservatives as th...
S M Usmani, K Klutzny, Y de Laval, R Plarre, D McMahon, I Stephan, T Hübert, E Kemnitz
Biosourced hybrid phenolic resins as coatings for the protection of wood and wood composites
2019 - IRG/WP 19-30745
Biosourced phenolic resins, based on the phenol-formaldheyde (PF) type, were prepared for their application as coating for wood and wood composites protection, especially against fire. The resins were synthesized by combining an organic polymeric matrix with another inorganic phase. The organic phase was prepared substituting phenol by natural phenolic compounds such as lignin and tannins. The ino...
P L de Hoyos-Martínez, R Herrera, J Labid, F Charrier El Bouhtoury
Potential of totora and derivatives as sustainable lignocellulosic material
2019 - IRG/WP 19-40859
Totora (Schoenoplectus californicus C.A. Mey. Soják) is a macrophyte from the Cyperaceae family that grows in the Americas from California to Chile. This plant has long been used by several cultures such as the Ohlone in California, the Moche in Peru, or the Incas in Los Andes. Some communities have maintained its traditional use until the present, such as the communities living nearby Lake San P...
J F Hidalgo-Cordero, D Casado, J García, L Robertson, M T Troya
Protecting wood exterior infrastructures above ground in Spain. The importance of protection by design in the performance
2019 - IRG/WP 19-40874
Across Spain is very common to find wood exterior infrastructures build mainly in sawn and glue-laminated wood. Most of these exterior wood infrastructures use softwood wood species such as: fir, spruce, larch and pine. In Spain exterior wood infrastructures, became more and more popular since nineties, when sawn and glue-laminated wood were utilized for building exterior wood infrastructures in o...
D Lorenzo, M Touza, J Fernandez-Golfín, A Lozano, J Benito, M T Troya, L Robertson
Durability of tropical species from Peru according to European Standards
2020 - IRG/WP 20-10964
Natural durability is defined as the intrinsic resistance of wood against the attack of destructive organisms. There are standardized methods to estimate a durability value. In Europe, the standard EN-350 is responsible for establishing the basic guidelines, as well as the necessary tests to determine this value, which is essential to know the degree of protection needed for the tested wood to ext...
J Valdivia, P Gómez, M T Troya, L Robertson, J A Martín, A Loayza
Performance of bio-based building materials – durability and moisture dynamics
2020 - IRG/WP 20-20666
When exposed to conditions favourable for decay, bio-based building materials can be susceptible to degradation. Their ability to withstand deterioration over time (performance) depends on the intrinsic or enhanced durability of the material as well as its wetting and drying behaviour. The effect of fungicidal components in wood is known since long. Other material characteristics, such as the mate...
L De Ligne, J Caes, S Omar, J Van den Bulcke, J M Baetens, B De Baets, J Van Acker
Evaluation of decay and energy properties from thermally modified biomasses during fungal deterioration by NIR-spectrometry
2021 - IRG/WP 21-40922
This study is focused on the prediction of fungal weight loss (WL) and high heating value (HHV) from raw and torrefied waste lignocellulosic feedstocks, according to their exposure duration to wood-destroying fungi, using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and chemometrics models.
Sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk, eucalyptus and pine shavings were torrefied at 290 °C in a screw reactor, during 5, 7...
B de Freitas Homem de Faria, P Santana Barbosa, J Valente Roque, A de Cassia Oliveira Carneiro, P Rousset, K Candelier, R F Teofilo
Combining MRI and X-ray CT to monitor fungal decay of plywood and OSB in a lab test
2022 - IRG/WP 22-20683
Bio-based building materials, such as wood and wood-engineered products, are susceptible to degradation by decay fungi. In-depth knowledge on the intricate material-fungus relationship as well as performance data for many bio-based building materials are still lacking, and especially knowledge on how a material’s structure and moisture properties affect the degradation process is missing. Althou...
L De Ligne, T Núñez Guitar, C Vanhove, J Van Acker, J Van den Bulcke
Role of microbiota in wood degradation by Reticulitermes grassei and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
2022 - IRG/WP 22-20684
Xylophagous organisms can cause damage both in forests and in felled wood. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes "Sudden Pine Wilting" in coniferous forest masses, and is currently considered a quarantine organism in the European Union. On the other hand, structural and carpentry wood is affected by subterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.), that cause serious damage, both in buildings and fu...
L Robertson, S Rames, M Uriel, J M González, F Llinares, S M Santos, M T Troya
Moisture sorption behaviour of poplar and thermally modified poplar using dynamic vapour sorption (DVS)
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40947
The moisture sorption behaviour of wood has a critical impact on service life. In Europe, softwood is mostly used to manufacture engineered wood products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) or glue-laminated timber (GLT or glulam). Yet fast-growing and widespread tree species such as hybrid poplar with or without modification, have potential to meet the increasing demand. This study shows the moi...
X Jiang, J Van den Bulcke, L De Boever, M Minsart, A Mignon, J Van Acker
Durability of thermotreated Pinus sylvestris and Eucalyptus nitens against wood decay organisms
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40949
One of the alternative treatments to avoid the application of biocides is thermal modification of wood, which increases the durability of wood against attack by wood decay organisms. The durability of Pinus sylvestris and Eucalyptus nitens thermotreated at 180 and 212 ºC, was studied. The results show that thermotreatment against wood decay fungi in P. sylvestris is slightly more effective than i...
M T Troya, S M Santos, L Robertson, N Pérez-Molina, V Baños, A Dieste
Effect of enzymatic inhibitors on the population of Reticulitermes grassei and their associated microbiota
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11008
Termites are pests that invade urban, agricultural and forest environments worldwide. They are economically important owing to the damage they cause to wood, wood products, building materials, agricultural products and forests. There are many methods for its control, but many of them cause negative environmental effects due to their toxicity. In termites, dietary change or antibiotic treatment may...
S M Santos, M T Troya, F Llinares, P Colina, E García, M Álvarez, L Robertson
Isolation of the microbiota from wood decay insects and some of their enzymatic activities
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11014
Wood decay organisms have the ability to degrade wood components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) by enzymatic capacities, but these enzymes can belong to the proper organism, or to the associated microbiota. The identification of the microorganisms, as well as their role in the digestion of many substrates not always is very well known.
The wood decay insects produce big damages in wood str...
M T Troya, F Llinares, J Arranz, S Izpura-Luis, S M Santos, L Robertson
Evaluation of the efficacy of silver nanoparticles and chitosan oligomer composites as poplar wood protective treatments against termites
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40963
Populus × euramericana ‘I-214’ (poplar) is a fast-growing species widely distributed throughout the world, and in the Castile-Leon region of Spain it accounts for more than 50% of all plantations. Its wood is becoming increasingly appreciated, yet its low durability against xylophagous agents —termites being one of the most aggressive and destructive in warm climates— continues to be a li...
E Spavento, M T Troya, M Casado-Sanz, J Martín-Gil, P Matín-Ramos, L Robertson, L Acuña-Rello
Ultrasound as an alternative treatment in wood protection
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40973
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Nickle 1970 is probably the most important nematode of the pine, affecting coniferous forest masses, and that has forced the European Union to take measures to prevent its propagation. In sawmills, wood is currently subjected to heat treatment in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15 2019). This standard contemplates three ...
L Robertson, S M Santos, S Cobacho Arcos , A Navas, M T Troya
Modification of wood by fast pyrolysis bio-oil – the NewWave project concept for bio-based wood treatment
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40990
The NewWave project aims to contribute to building a circular economy by introducing sustainable raw materials in different manufacturing lines, replacing toxic chemicals and lowering the environmental footprint of the products. The raw materials are obtained from the thermochemical fractionation of biomass. This process converts biomass residues by fast pyrolysis into Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil (FPBO...
A Sandak, J Sandak, F Poohphajai, R Herrera Diaz, A Gubenšek, K Butina Ogorelec, L Kiezebrink, K J Swager, H Heeres, B van de Beld
What products are architects using? Relationships between deterioration part and structural performance in wooden houses
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50374
Architects work in the development of ideas around buildings and all the nuclei where human activity is generated. It is a work of organization of matter, in time and space, where the conceptual world of ideas and the aspirations of inventions, the interior world interact with the exterior in many kinds of realities.
But as architects, we have always been interested in why and how things have bee...
I de las Casas