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Comparison of selected physical and mechanical properties of densified beech wood plasticized by ammonia and saturated steam

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Abstract

Gaseous ammonia treatment in combination with densification of wood has been known for several decades, but these days there is no industrial production of materials modified in this way; also, little has been published in this area of wood science. In this study, selected physical and mechanical properties, i.e. density profile, bending strength, hardness and moisture absorption were investigated for Lignamon (1), which was obtained from the Czech industrial production. Selected properties were also investigated using steam-densified beech (2) and native beech (3) and compared with each other. Densitometry of Lignamon showed a large variability in the density profile compared to that of only densified beech. It is affected by the degree of densification, temperature and moisture gradients, and their relationship to the glass transition of the wood cell wall. Modulus of elasticity, hardness, moisture exclusion and anti-swelling efficiency of Lignamon are enhanced compared to densified beech. The enhanced dimensional stability and lower hygroscopicity of Lignamon are probably caused by heat treatment during the process. Further investigation will be carried out with self-produced Lignamon samples.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic, project “The Establishment of an International Research Team for the Development of New Wood-based Materials” Reg. no. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0269 and by the Internal Grant Agency (IGA) of Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, (IGA V 79/2013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wood Science, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Pařil, Martin Brabec, Ondřej Maňák, Radim Rousek, Peter Rademacher, Petr Čermák & Aleš Dejmal

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  1. Petr Pařil
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  2. Martin Brabec
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  3. Ondřej Maňák
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  4. Radim Rousek
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  5. Peter Rademacher
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  6. Petr Čermák
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  7. Aleš Dejmal
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Correspondence to Petr Pařil.

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Pařil, P., Brabec, M., Maňák, O. et al. Comparison of selected physical and mechanical properties of densified beech wood plasticized by ammonia and saturated steam. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 72, 583–591 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0814-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0814-8

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