Pedro Henrique Gonzalez de Cademartori

THERMAL MODIFICATION OF Eucalyptus grandis WOOD: VARIATION OF COLORIMETRIC PARAMETERS

The color modifications in Eucalyptus grandis thermally modified wood were investigated. One hundred eighty specimens (10 x 10 x 200 mm) were prepared and thermally modified in an electric kiln for 4 and 8 h at 180-240oC. The color parameters (L*, a*, b*, C*, h* and ΔE) were determined by the CIE-L*a*b* method on radial and tangential sections of untreated and treated wood. The results indicated the darkening of specimens in the radial and tangential sections. Both sections showed variation of L* between 73 and 30, a* between 9 and 5 and b* between 20 and 8. The thermally modified wood at 180 and 200oC showed similar patterns, equally at 220 and 240oC. The time of exposure indicated significance just in treatment at 200oC.

Composition and structure of organosolv lignins from four eucalypt species

Lignins were extracted from different species using organosolv process (ethanol/water). Obtained organosolv lignins were characterised by various methods to determine their composition, structure and functional groups with the purpose of evaluating their potential use for obtaining value-added compounds. The purity of organosolv lignins was determined. The total phenols content and the antioxidant power were analysed in order to know the reactivity of lignins. The ratio S/G was determined by nitrobenzene oxidation. In addition, molecular weight distribution, infrared spectroscopy and thermo gravimetrical analysis were carried out in order to determine the physical and chemical properties of organosolv lignins. Obtained organosolv lignins have very high purity and low sugar and inorganic contamination. All organosolv lignins samples have high polydispersity, and lignin from grey ironbark wood had the highest molecular weight average. Among the organosolv lignins, lemon-scented gum showed the highest average value of S/G ratio and the lowest average value of total phenols.

Physical and mechanical properties and colour changes of fast-growing Gympie messmate wood subjected to two-step steam-heat treatments

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate physical and mechanical properties and colour changes of fast-growing Gympie messmate wood subjected to two-step steam-heat treatments. To achieve this, Gympie messmate wood was thermally treated under different conditions. Combined steam (127°C and ∼0,1471 MPa) and heat treatments in an oven (180–240°C for 4 hours) were performed. Physical and mechanical properties were evaluated by weight loss, equilibrium moisture content, specific gravity, volumetric and linear swelling and static bending tests, while colour changes were studied using CIEL*a*b* technique. The main findings showed that the steam pre-treatment in autoclave influenced most of the technological properties evaluated, mainly for heat treatments performed in low temperatures (180–200°C). The most significant changes after thermal treatments were observed for dimensional stability, which increased as a function of temperature of treatment. On the other hand, mechanical strength of thermally modified wood was significantly affected, while stiffness did not change. Colour modifications due to the application of two-step steam-heat treatments confirm the possibility to using these samples for aesthetic purposes.

Modification of static bending strength properties of Eucalyptus grandis heat-treated wood

The present study describes the effect of thermal rectification on physical and mechanical properties of Eucalyptus grandis wood at different levels of temperature and time. Samples of Eucalyptus grandis wood (10 × 10 × 200 mm) were heat-treated at 180, 200, 220 and 240 °C during 4 and 8 hours. The mechanical properties of heat-treated and untreated samples were determined by static bending tests. The physical properties were determined by weight loss and swelling tests. The results showed that modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, weight loss, volumetric swelling and linear swelling were affected significantly by the thermal rectification. However, the length of exposure influenced just weight loss, while the temperature influenced all the studied properties of heat-treated wood. More significant modifications with treatments at a temperature of 200 °C or higher were found in the properties of heat-treated wood.

Natural weathering performance of three fast-growing Eucalypt woods

We investigated the effect of outdoor exposure on the wood surface from three fast-growing Brazilian eucalypts through color, wetting and thermal analyzes. Gympie messmate (Eucalyptus cloeziana), rose gum (Eucalyptus grandis) and blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) woods were exposed outdoors in a subtropical region for 360 days. We performed three collections every 120 days. We investigated color changes of untreated and weathered woods through a spectrophotometer (CIEL*a*b* system) and changes in macro compounds of wood through thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the apparent contact angle and work of adhesion were evaluated using a goniometer. Outdoor exposure for 120 days provided significant increment in grayish of wood surface. Thermogravimetric curves of wood changed after the weathering, especially in the regions related to hemicelluloses and lignin thermal degradation. Outdoor exposure for 360 days converted hydrophilic wood surface into a very hydrophilic one, wherein occurrence of microcracks contributed to fully spreading of water droplets.

Changes of wettability of medium density fiberboard (MDF) treated with He-DBD plasma

Abstract The effects of two power levels (50 and 150 W) and five time levels (10, 20, 40, 60 and 120 s) of glow discharge in helium dielectric barrier discharge (He-DBD) has been investigated in the context of surface modification of medium density fiberboard (MDF) panels. He-DBD elevated the surface wettability of MDF panels as assessed by dynamic contact angle (CA) measurements including the determination of surface free energy, droplet volume and spreading contact area of droplets. The chemical changes of the MDF surfaces were also characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Expectedly, the apparent CA and droplet volume decreased with increasing power and time of glow discharge, mainly at the 150 W power level. The oxygen content of the surfaces, the surface free energy and the spreading contact area increased upon treatment. At higher energy levels the treatment time could be reduced, which is essential for future applications in industrial processes.

Effect of thermal treatments on technological properties of wood from two Eucalyptus species

The effect of thermal treatments on physical and mechanical properties of rose gum and Sydney blue gum wood was evaluated. Wood samples were thermally modified in a combination: pre-treatment in an autoclave (127°C - 1h) and treatment in an oven (180-240°C - 4h); and only treatment in an oven at 180-240°C for 4h. Chemical changes in the structure of woods were evaluated through infrared spectroscopy. Evaluation of physical properties was performed through mass loss, specific gravity, equilibrium moisture content and dimensional stability tests. Surface changes were analyzed through apparent contact angle technique and static bending tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical behavior. Use of pre-treatment in autoclave affected the properties analyzed, however oven, resulted in the highest changes on wood from both species. Chemical changes were related to the degradation of hemicelluloses. Moreover, a significant decrease of hygroscopicity and mechanical strength of thermally modified woods was observed, while specific gravity did not significantly change for either of the species studied. The best results of decrease of wettability were found in low temperatures, while dimensional stability increased as a function of temperature of exposure in oven. The highest loss of mechanical strength was observed at 240°C for both species.

Colour responses of two fast-growing hardwoods to two-step steam-heat treatments

Colour changes by thermal treatments are a good alternative to increase wood quality, especially for non-structural uses. In this study, rose gum (Eucalyptus grandis) and Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) woods from Southern Brazil were thermally treated under different conditions (steam pretreatment in an autoclave at 127 °C for 1 hour and heat treatment in an oven at 180, 200, 200 and 240 °C for 4 hours) and colour changes were investigated using CIEL*a*b* technique. The main findings show that thermal treatments resulted in darkening of the wood, which was more intense at high temperatures. Colour difference after two-step steam-heat treatments was higher than 45 for both species. In general, the influence of the steam pre-treatment was more visible in lower temperatures. Lightness (L*) was the parameter that best described the colorimetric behaviour of rose gum and Sydney blue gum woods. In conclusion, thermal treatments are a great method to improve the market value of wood, especially for aesthetic uses, but it requires a control of process conditions.

Prediction of the modulus of elasticity of Eucalyptus grandis through two nondestructive techniques

The present study aimed to estimate the modulus of elasticity (MOE) at static bending of Rose gum (Eucalyptus grandis) heartwood and sapwood through two nondestructive techniques: ultrasound and stress wave. Sixty samples of heartwood and sapwood were prepared. Nondestructive tests were performed using ultrasound and stress wave timer equipment, while destructive tests were carried out in a universal machine through static bending tests. The main results showed that the heartwood presented better behavior than the sapwood in the non-destructive tests. However, the best model was obtained considering both wood types through the ultrasonic technique. Therefore, stress wave and ultrasonic techniques could be employed to estimate the modulus of elasticity of Rose gum wood.

THE EFFECT OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES OBTAINED BY MICROWAVE-ASSISTED HYDROTHERMAL METHOD ON THE COLOR AND DECAY RESISTANCE OF PINEWOOD

This study aimed to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method to incorporate them to the structure of Pinus elliottii wood. The color changes and the decay resistance of impregnated wood was investigated. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles were impregnatedinto Pinus elliottii wood by vacuum-pressure and simple immersion methods. Furthermore, Pinus elliottii wood was treated with chromated copper borate solution tocompare their effectiveness to the titanium dioxide treated wood. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles impregnated by vacuum-pressurewere presented especially on the wood surface, forming a homogeneous coating. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles did not change the natural color of wood and, at the same time, decreased the degree of the white rot fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) colonization in the wood structure and the wood decay,compared to the untreated one. The titanium dioxide treated wood samples provided similar protection against decay in comparison to wood treated with chromated copper borate. The impegnation with titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be a good alternative to decrease/avoid the fungi proliferation,providing to Pinus elliottii wood a self-cleaning mechanism.