Hiroki Sakagami

Shrinkage of tracheid cells with desorption visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was applied as a new method of visualizing the shrinkage of wood and its anisotropy. Control of relative humidity and temperature in a specialized environment chamber made it possible to acquire transverse images of tracheids of Akamatsu (Pinus densiflora) from the saturated condition to the dried condition. The shrinkage of tracheid cells was also determined by measuring the tangential diameter of tracheid and lumen, the radial diameter of tracheid and lumen, and the thickness of tangential and radial walls. Moreover, this technique makes it possible to discuss the relationship between moisture content and tracheid cell shape. We found the CLSM technique to be an effective method for visualizing shrinkage of tracheid cells with desorption.

In situ visualization of hardwood microcracks occurring during drying

Microcracks produced in an Acacia hybrid (Acacia mangium × Acacia auriculiformis) and Melia azedarach during drying were visualized in situ using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM); the morphological differences were compared. In the Acacia hybrid, numerous microcracks were found between the wood fiber and ray parenchyma, which propagated toward both the pith and bark. The microcracks closed with further drying, but persisted until the last stage of drying. In Melia azedarach, however, few microcracks formed between the wood fiber and ray parenchyma in the latewood region; they also propagated toward both the pith and bark. Because the microcracks subsequently closed, some could not be detected by CLSM. These morphological characteristics resulted from differences in the wood structure and we conclude that the interface zone between the wood fiber and ray parenchyma is one type of weak point on the transverse surface that is susceptible to checking.

Microcracks occurring during drying visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

The microcracks occurring during drying of wood were visualized under confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Precise control of relative humidity and temperature in a specialized environment chamber made it possible to acquire sequential images of the wood of Cryptomeria japonica during drying from the water-saturated condition. The images indicated that the microcracks occurred between tracheid and ray parenchyma in the latewood region and the crack tip advanced in both the bark and pith directions. Subsequently, the crack tip expanding towards the bark stopped at the earlywood region through the growth ring boundary. The other tip toward the pith stopped at the earlywood region before reaching the growth ring boundary. Our technique made it possible to generate microcracks and discuss the relationship between moisture content and microcrack formation during drying. We found the CLSM technique to be an effective method for visualizing microcrack propagation with time.

A Study of Vacuum-Drying Characteristics of Sugi Boxed-Heart Timber

In this study, we evaluated the effects of drying under atmospheric and vacuum pressure on the drying time, checking, and color change of sugi boxed-heart timber dried at the same dry-bulb temperature and the same wet-bulb depression. The results obtained were as follows: Sugi boxed-heart timber specimens dried at any temperature under vacuum pressure had a shorter drying time than the specimens dried under atmospheric pressure. At moisture content above fiber saturation point and at the same dry-bulb temperature, the specimens dried under vacuum pressure had a drying rate that was almost twice as fast as that of the specimens dried under atmospheric pressure. Sugi boxed-heart timber specimens dried under both atmospheric and vacuum pressure at a higher drying temperature had a shorter drying time than the specimens dried at a lower drying temperature. Apart from the sugi boxed-heart timber specimen dried at a temperature of 100°C under atmospheric pressure, no surface checks were observed for the specimens dried under vacuum pressure or at the other temperatures dried under atmospheric pressure. Slight internal checks were observed in sugi boxed-heart timber specimens dried at a temperature of 100°C under both atmospheric and vacuum pressure. After planer shaving, there was no significant difference between kiln drying under atmospheric pressure and that done under vacuum pressure in terms of the color change (ΔE*) for both sapwood and heartwood of sugi boxed-heart timber specimens.

Effects of High-Temperature and Low-Humidity Pretreatment on the Drying Properties of Sugi Boxed-Heart Timber with Black-Colored Heartwood

In this study, the optimal conditions of high-temperature and low-humidity (HT-LH) pretreatment to prevent surface checks of sugi boxed-heart timber with black-colored heartwood were investigated. The focus of this study was on the effects of log diameter, temperature, and pretreatment time on the drying time and checking of the timber dried at a constant temperature and relative humidity. The results obtained were as follows: The drying time of specimens obtained from 22-cm-diameter logs was longer than that obtained from 20-cm-diameter logs. The drying time of specimens obtained from 22-cm-diameter logs was influenced by both pretreatment temperature and time. Higher pretreatment temperature and/or longer pretreatment time resulted in longer drying times. In contrast, in the case of specimens obtained from 20-cm-diameter logs, a longer pretreatment time resulted in a shorter drying time. The average surface check area of specimens tended to decrease and the average total number and length of internal check tended to increase as pretreatment temperature and time increased. Pretreatment at a temperature of 135°C for 10 h or 150°C for 7 h was effective in preventing surface checks of the specimens.

Dependence of Microcrack Behavior in Wood on Moisture Content during Drying

A modified confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) system was developed not only to observe the microcracks on the surface of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don in situ at the cellular level but also to obtain information about the moisture content (MC) of the wood surface by measuring the change in its electrical resistivity. The sequential images and changes in the electrical resistivity of the wood surface indicated that microcracks formed between the tracheid and ray parenchyma in the latewood region at >1.0E

Performance of Sugi lamina impregnated with low-molecular weight phenolic resin

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Sugi lamina impregnated with low-molecular weight phenolic (LMWP) resin using the full cell process followed by curing at high temperature. In this study, penetration of LMWP resin into finger-jointed lamina was examined. Physical and mechanical properties, such as surface hardness, dimensional stability, bending and shear strength of LMWP-resin-treated and untreated lamina were investigated. In addition, the bonding quality and nail-withdrawal resistance of 3-ply assembly specimen made from LMWP-resin-treated and untreated lamina bonded using resorcinol–phenol formaldehyde resin adhesive were also investigated. The main results were as follows: LMWP resin was found to have penetrated sufficiently into finger-jointed lamina. The physical properties of LMWP-resin-treated lamina were found to have improved significantly in comparison with untreated lamina. However, no significant difference was found between LMWP-resin-treated and untreated lamina in terms of their mechanical properties. There was an improvement in bonding quality of the assembly made from LMWP-resin-treated lamina when compared with that made from untreated lamina. In the assembly made from untreated lamina, a significant decrease in nail-withdrawal resistance was observed between dry conditions test and after humidity conditioning test. However, the same tendency was not found in the assembly made from LMWP-resin-treated lamina.

Wood Density and Growth Ring Structure of Pinus Patula Planted in Malawi, Africa

Growth ring structure and wood density were compared among five families of Pinus patula planted in Malawi, Africa. The vertical and radial variations of wood density and growth characteristics were investigated in stems of 30-year-old Pinus patula planted at a spacing of 2.74 × 2.74 m. The pattern of ring width with cambial aging was broadly similar at all stem heights: wide to the 4th growth ring, decreasing gradually up to the 10th ring and then very narrow towards the bark. In all the families, the first complete growth ring was the widest, ranging from 20 to 50 mm across the families. This trend was different from other similar studies carried out in Zimbabwe and South Africa where the growth ring width increased from the 1st to the 3rd ring with the highest ring width of 19 mm. Specific gravity varied with height above the ground for all the trees. The average specific gravity was 0.56. Weak to medium correlations between latewood percentage and specific gravity were observed. The study shows that selection for density in Pinus patula could be made at least by the age of 10 years.

Effects of application of trans -zeatin on tracheid differentiation in mature sugi ( Cryptomeria japonica ) trees

The mechanism of differentiation of tracheid (earlywood or latewood) should be elucidated to improve the wood properties of sugi trees (Cryptomeria japonica). Water deficit affects tracheid differentiation in conifers. However, the signals, which transmit the information of water contents in the soil to the differentiating tracheid, remain unknown. Plant responses with deficits of macronutrients or water showed some differences but also similarities, mostly involving hormonal long-distance signaling. In Arabidopsis, trans-zeatin (tZ)-type cytokinins play a role as a root-to-shoot acropetal signal. In this study, we report the effects of applying tZ alone or in combination with other phytohormones on tracheid differentiation in mature sugi trees forming latewood. The application of tZ induced the formation of earlywood-type tracheids with significantly smaller cell wall ratios and larger microfibril angles than those of controls in July, August and September. The application of indole acetic acid (IAA) in combination with tZ inhibited the effects of applied tZ, although gibberellic acid (GA3) did not. In October and November, application of tZ could not affect the xylem formation or dormancy of cambium. We hypothesized that tZ might play a role in the differentiation of earlywood tracheid.

Tree heights in the ring-formed years affect microfibril angles in the rings from juvenile to mature wood at breast height in hinoki trees ( Chamaecyparis obtusa )

In this study, we examined past growth traits of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) trees by stem analysis, as well as growth traits in the years when the rings at breast height were formed. We tried to clarify the effects of growth traits in the ring-formed years on the wood properties of the rings from juvenile to mature wood. Height to diameter ratio (H/D) had a larger correlation coefficient in relation to stem stiffness than tree height or diameter at breast height (DBH). The longitudinal variation in stiffness of logs, except for first and top logs, in each tree was assumed to be constant with the height position in the trunk. Tree height in the ring-formed year had a significant negative effect on microfibril angle (MFA) near the pith, in transition wood, and in mature wood. DBH in the ring-formed year had a significant negative effect on density in mature wood. We concluded that the effects of tree height on MFA and of DBH on density produced the effect of H/D on stem stiffness of the trunk. Greater tree height in younger age may contribute to the improvement of juvenile wood properties.