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Biological durability and wood-water interactions of sorbitol and citric acid modified wood – Effects on the expected service life
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40960
A high level of research activities on sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA) modified wood has been recognized in Europe over the last few years. As this treatment is close to entering an industrial-scale production, it is of interest to investigate how such treated wood performs upon long-term outdoor exposure. Hence, in this study Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood was modified with aqueous sol...
K Kurkowiak, L Emmerich, H Militz


New wood-modification process based on grafted urethane groups: Durability of carbamamylated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40974
Substituting commonly used toxic preservatives with wood modification treatments can make the wood material less prone to water and moisture uptake. This approach favours a more sustainable protection of wood against biodegradation. In this study, Scots pine sapwood was full-cell impregnated with an aqueous solution of urea (30%), dried at 40°C for 24h, and subsequently heat-treated at 150°C for...
C-F Lin, O Myronycheva, O Karlsson, D Jones, D Sandberg


UV protection and dimensional stability of lignin-based wood treatments
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40979
New developments in the field of wood modification aim to enhance the intrinsic properties of natural timber. The limitation of wood should be preferably achieved with biobased ingredients and efficient, eco-friendly treatments possessing low environmental impact. Consequently, new solutions assuring expected properties and functionality over elongated service life and reducing the risk of product...
R Herrera,O Gordobil, F Poohphajai, A Sandak


Short-term absorption of water and coatings on thermally modified blue-stained spruce wood
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40984
The importance of wood has been increasing in the last decades. Among conifers, predominantly spruce (Picea abies) wood is often used in building constructions in Europe. Namely for construction and facades of buildings, decking and fences. Due to the increased public concerns about biocides, alternative techniques for protection, such as thermal modification and protection by construction, are ga...
R Hasanagic, M Bahmani, M Humar, L Fathi, L Cai


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


Evaluation of the effectiveness of soaking of high-temperature plywood in low-temperature oil-based wood
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40991
We conducted a preliminary investigation to determine if soaking high-temperature plywood in a low-temperature preservative solution could achieve deeper penetration of the preservative, even in plywood made with refractory wood species such as Japanese larch. Specimens cut from commercial plywood (Japanese larch) were stored at various temperatures before being soaked in the preservative solution...
T Miyauchi, S Isaji, H Shibui, N Furuta, J Miyazaki, H Matusnaga


Enhanced durability of bio-based materials for green building
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50382
Wood protection technologies provide tools to enhance the durability of bio-based materials for green building. Both wood and related bio-based material are regarded as eminent for green building. It allows to underpin several of the United Nations sustainable development goals and is regarded critical for the Green Deal objectives of the EU. Nevertheless, to enhance the potential it needs to be b...
J Van Acker, L De Ligne, J Vand den Bulcke


Characterization of cell wall morphology and water-soluble extractives in Japanese larch decayed by white-pocket-rot fungi
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11034
Porodaedalea chrysoloma (Fr.) Fiasson & Niemelä is a basidiomycete that can cause white-rot decay in Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) heartwood. P. chrysoloma is a white-rot fungus with a unique pattern that causes white-pocket-rot in the xylem of Japanese larch. However, the mechanism by which P. chrysoloma yields the pattern of white-pocket-rot in Japanese larch heartwood remains unclear. Thus,...
Y Mori, H Arai, T Ito, H Hashitani, K Yamashita, Y Ota, M Kiguchi


Intra-species variability of moisture dynamics in wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11040
Moisture dynamics of wood and wood-based materials play a major role in wood durability against different decay organisms. Their impact becomes particularly evident when wood is exposed, but not permanently wet. To date, however, this has only been taken into account indirectly and therefore inadequately when testing the durability of wood. While test methods are available, for example to determin...
C Brischke, H Purps, L Emmerich


Laboratory and field evaluations of bio-based termiticide containing Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® against native and Formosan subterranean termites
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11049
Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® is a 100% plant-based ingredient, rich in active molecules, particularly polyphenols, specially adapted to the needs and challenges of termite protection. The efficacy performance of a bio-based termiticide product containing Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® had been evaluated both in soil treatment and in wood protection treatment against native ...
D Messaoudi, J Curole, Q Wu


X-ray micro-computed tomography of copper distribution in CA, ACQ and MCA treated wood and changes in microstructure of ACQ-treated southern pine following natural weathering
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20707
We hypothesized that X-ray micro-CT would be able to visualize: (a) the distribution of copper in CA-treated southern pine; and (b) microstructural changes in ACQ-treated southern pine exposed to natural weathering. Small blocks were removed from southern pine samples treated with CA and also southern pine treated with ACQ and MCA. Small blocks were also removed from ACQ-treated boards (flat and p...
D Feng, M Turner, P D Evans


Binder-free, fire-resistant, light-weight fiberboard materials encrusted with expandable graphite and borax
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20714
Despite abundant data on innovative fire protection technologies tailored for wood and lignocellulosic materials, the prevailing approach revolves around the formulation of fire retardant solutions employing water-soluble salts, e.g., phosphorus or boron compounds. On the other hand, additives fostering the formation of a char layer during the combustion of lignocellulosic materials as a non-leach...
W Perdoch, W Grześkowiak, B Mazela


Terpene-based latex synthesis for exterior wood protection
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20715
Driven by challenges in raw material supply chains, the coatings industry is actively seeking biobased alternatives to enhance outdoor wood protection. This study aims to investigate the integration of biobased monomers into latex formulations, aligning with protocols applicable in industrial contexts. A semi-batch emulsion polymerization protocol was developed, designed to be scalable and meet es...
M Carrère, V Landry


Surface treatment of cross-laminated timber to improve water repellency and UV resistance
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20716
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has emerged as a revolutionary building material, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional construction methods. By layering and bonding multiple layers of wood at right angles, CLT creates a robust and versatile structural element capable of supporting significant loads while promoting eco-friendliness and design flexibility. However, despite its numerous adv...
M Chen, S Uphill, J Hilsenbeck, A Hughes


Studies on the treatability of selected pine species and corresponding efficacies of a new non-biocidal treatment
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20721
Wood decay caused by fungi may reduce the service life of wood in outdoor applications. Since moisture conditions in wood occur as one of the most crucial parameters for fungal decay, chemical modifications, which affect the latter, may increase the resistance of wood against such organisms. Usually, pine sapwood is easier to chemically treat than heartwood, as the former generally shows good perm...
T R da Silva Lins, L Emmerich, H Militz, P H Gonzales de Cademartoni, R J Klizke, M Pereira da Rocha


Comparison of copper leaching from alkaline copper quat and copper compound nanosol-based wood preservative treated wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20726
To improve the leaching resistance of copper ion-based wood preservatives, copper compound nanosol-based wood preservatives were developed and its copper leaching characteristics were evaluated. Three types of preservatives (DC1, DC2, DC3) were prepared with different crystallinity and dispersant types of copper compound nanosol, and the copper concentration was adjusted to be the same as that of ...
Y-S Choi, S-M Yoon, J O Kim, J-G Kang, J-G Park


A new wood preservative system based on basic copper compound nanosols
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20728
A bottom-up process was established to synthesize insoluble basic copper compound nanoparticles and simultaneously form a stable nanosol by dropping a neutralizing agent solution into an aqueous solution of a copper compound to which an appropriate dispersant system was added. The main ingredient of MCA (Micronized Copper Azole), the leading copper-based wood preservative in the current world mark...
J O Kim, J-G Kang, Y-S Choi, S-M Yoon, H-M Lee, J-G Park


Exploring bio-based chemicals in the residual stream from the thermal wood modification process
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30799
Numerous chemical-free processes have emerged in the wood processing industry to enhance the durability and optimize the service life of wooden elements exposed to exterior conditions. One such method, the hygrothermolytic modification process, patented as FirmoLin®, represents an industrial treatment for thermal modification of wood. This involves subjecting solid wood to a pressurized unsaturat...
R Herrera, W Willems, W Pajerski, A Selmanović, A Sandak


Developing thermal-energy storage systems based on Kraft lignin-glyoxal and organic phase-change material modified wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30810
This study investigated the use of modified wood as a thermal-energy storage material through the integration of paraffin-based phase-change materials (PCMs). The objective was to evaluate the influence of Kraft lignin-glyoxal prepolymer on the properties of wood modified with PCMs. The implementation of the modified wood involved preparing PCM emulsions, synthesizing lignin-glyoxal prepolymer, an...
C-F Lin, O Karlsson, D Jones, D Sandberg


A novel treatment for increasing UV stabuility of wood based on citric acid and urea
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30811
Wood, a fundamental material in the Built Environment, faces challenges related to durability and weathering, notably UV degradation leading to colour changes. This study explored a novel treatment method utilising citric acid and urea to enhance the UV stability of wood. The reaction between these compounds forms fluorescent species and insoluble nanoparticles upon thermal treatment. Two treatmen...
S Jué, A Scharf, C-F Lin, R Moutou Pitti, D Sandberg, D Jones


International joint field trial on the moisture performance of wood – Set up and first results
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40996
Wood durability to decay stems from its inherent resistance to fungi resistance to fungi. In this regard, wood's ability to withstand moisture uptake plays an important role as the lower threshold for wood decay is a moisture content of 25%. However, the aspect of moisture resistance is not yet sufficiently emphasized as a durability factor, both in the assessment of durability as a material prope...
C Brischke, et al. (33 co-authors)


Evaluation of the water exclusion ability and inherent bioactivity of heartwood against decay in Japanese and European wood species via above-ground exposure and water absorption tests
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40998
The natural durability of wood has been thought to mainly depend on bioactive extractives and the water exclusion ability. To clarify the contribution of each factor to wood durability, above-ground exposure tests were conducted on Japanese and European wood species. A double-layer test was carried out using heartwood specimens of four wood species, i.e., Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, Scots pi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto


Bio-based thermal insulation panels – a way of cascading utilization of post-consumer wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50388
Cascading wood utilization is critical to fulfilling a circular economy frame in the wood industry. The work's aim was to apply wood dust from plywood production to the production of innovative bio-based thermal insulation panels. Trametes hirsute fungus was used as a composite binder, and then a composite structure and thermal insulation properties, water absorbability, and strength properties of...
W Perdoch, A Szelag


Determining the minimum water vapor permeability of exterior wood coatings by means of hygrothermal and decay models
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20717
The objective of this study was to determine the minimum water vapor permeability of exterior wood coatings for log homes using hygrothermal and decay modeling. The approach is based on a worst-case scenario assumption, namely a moisture trap at a given wood moisture content in a coated wall log. The minimum limit of vapor permeability of the coating system was determined by simulating the time re...
U Hundhausen, S Ullah, D Kraniotis


The durability and mechanical properties of 40 years old Black locust poles
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11042
This study investigates the durability and mechanical properties of 40-year-old black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) poles harvested from a vineyard in Slovenia. Wood from these poles was compared to recently harvested black locust wood to determine possible reuse options. Visual inspection, hyperspectral imaging, and laboratory tests were conducted to assess decay, density, mechanical properties, ...
M Humar, J Malik, J Levanic, D Krzisnik, E Kerzic, B Lesar


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