Sergej Medved

Application of liquefied wood as a new particle board adhesive system.

Different types of southern European hardwoods and softwoods were subjected to a liquefaction process with glycerol/diethylene glycol. The liquefied spruce wood was reacted in a condensation reaction in the hot press with different melamine-formaldehyde and melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin precursors and used as adhesives for wood particle boards. The mechanical properties of these particle boards and the determination of formaldehyde release, proved that addition of 50% of the liquefied wood to such resin precursors caused the product to meet the European standard quality demands for particle boards. Up to 40% reduction of the formaldehyde emission was achieved. The temperature of the press unit was lowered from 180 degrees C to 160 degrees C with no significant influence on the mechanical properties. On the basis of the presented results it was possible to conclude that liquefied wood can be used as substitute for synthetic resin precursors in adhesives that are used for the particle board production.

Properties of liquefied wood modified melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin adhesive and its application for bonding particleboards

In this study, we modified melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin adhesive with liquefied wood (LW) and determined the properties of MF–LW adhesive mixtures. Furthermore, we produced particleboards using prepared MF–LW mixtures and evaluated their mechanical and physical properties. Results showed that with increasing content of LW in the adhesive mixture gel time and peak temperature increased while reaction enthalpy decreased. With increasing substitution of MF resin adhesive with LW the thermal stability of adhesive mixture reduced, namely thermal degradation started at lower temperature and weight loss increased. Properties of particleboards improved with increasing amount of LW in the adhesive mixture up to 20% and then deteriorated. Nevertheless, the properties of particleboard with 30% LW in the adhesive mixture were comparable to the properties of particleboard without LW while they worsen at greater portion of LW. Consequently, MF resin adhesive with 30% LW substitution could be used to produce particleboards with suitable mechanical properties and reduced formaldehyde release content.

Chemical and Thermal Properties of Cellulose Acetate Prepared from White Willow (Salix alba) and Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) as a Potential Polymeric Base of Biocomposite Materials

Natural polymeric materials are an interesting alternative to petrochemical products with potential application in almost all areas of human activity. Wishing to expand the field of cellulose acetate application to the biocomposite wood materials, the possibilities of cellulose isolation and its acetylation from two domestic, commercially meagrely used, wood species was investigated in this paper. Cellulose isolated from white willow (Salix alba) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa) was acetylated using acetic anhydride and perchloric acid catalyst, by treatment at room temperature for 45 minutes. Analysis of the laboratory acetylation process, beside chemical analysis of the gained product by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), indicated the impact of hemicelluloses, present both in cellulose and cellulose acetate structure, on values of mass increase, number of acetyl groups and the degree of substitution. Results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) later confirmed the statement that thermal properties of cellulose acetate were also dependant on hemicelluloses.

Tannin-caprolactam and Tannin-PEG formulations as outdoor wood preservatives: weathering properties

Key messageThis article presents the leaching, fire and weathering resistance improvements of samples treated with tannin-based wood preservatives added of caprolactam. PEG-added formulations show limited applicability. The FT-IR and13C-NMR analyses of the caprolactam-added formulations show some evidences of copolymerization.ContextTannin-boron wood preservatives are known for their high resistance against leaching, biological attacks, fire as well as for the good mechanical properties that they impart to wood. These properties promoted these formulations for being a candidate for the protection of green buildings. However, the low elasticity of these polymers and their dark colour implied limited weathering resistances.AimsThe aim of the study is to find suitable additives for tannin-based formulations to overcome their limited weathering resistances, without compromising the other properties.MethodsTreatment, leaching and fire tests, dimensional stability as well as artificial and natural weathering of the timber treated with caprolactam-added and PEG-added formulations were performed. FT-IR and 13C-NMR of the formulations were presented.ResultsThe presence of caprolactam improved the properties of the formulation with particularly significant results in terms of resistance against leaching and dimensional stability. These enhancements were imparted also to the weathering resistance of the tannin-caprolactam formulations. Indeed, the colour changes during the artificial and natural exposures were stable for longer periods. FT-IR and 13C-NMR investigations of the advanced formulations were led, and covalent copolymerization of the caprolactam with the tannin-hexamine polymer was observed.ConclusionThe tannin formulations with caprolactam improved the durability of the wood specimens, while the PEG-tannin presented strong application drawbacks.