Artificial ageing of softwood joints and its effect on internal bond strength with special consideration of flat-to-end grain joints

The effect of ageing processes on internal bond strength of three-part specimens produced from Norway spruce wood (Picea abies Karst.) bonded with one-component polyurethane (PUR), two-component emulsion polymer isocyanate (EPI), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) or phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF) adhesive was studied. By varying the grain angle of the middle part from 0° (parallel to grain of the surface layers) to 90° (perpendicular to grain of the surface layers) in incremental steps of 10° the effect of grain direction was investigated. The specimens were exposed to a three-step ageing cycle lasting for seven days (50°C/95% relative humidity (rH), ?20°C/65?C70% rH and 75°C/15% rH) which was repeated twelve and twenty-four times, respectively. In general, a decrease in internal bond strength of the exposed specimens was observed. For all tested adhesive systems, influence of ageing processes was more pronounced for flat-to-end grain joints compared to longitudinal joints. For samples bonded with PUR adhesive strength reduction was lower compared to the other adhesives used.     

Verklebung von Buchenholz für tragende Holzbauteile

The load bearing capacity of glulam could be enhanced by using lamella of European beech (Fagus sylvatica??L.). Essential requirements for the production of those beams are adhesives which allow for a durable und reliable bonding of lamella. The paper shows to what extent commercially available MUF and PU adhesives and adapted bonding parameters ensure gluing of European beech timber for load-bearing timber structures. Both beech wood containing heartwood and beech wood without heartwood were included in the study. With regard to technical approval, the chosen test methods were resistance to delamination according to EN??302-2 (2002) and shear test of glue line according to EN??392 (1995). From the two tested MUF systems it was evident, that delamination decreased by increasing the closed assembly time. The requirements of EN??301 (2006) were fulfilled for adhesive type??I and??II. Without any limitations beech wood containing heartwood could be glued using MUF-1. On the other hand, the results of the PU adhesive were insufficient. Light-optical micrograph examinations show that long assembly times secure the formation of a glue line. It was assumed that the curing process is retarded by beech wood. No relationship was found between the results of the shear strength test and the delamination test. For quality control of glulam the delamination test is recommended. Based on the positive results an application for technical approval of glulam consisting of beech was made. For this reason beech-glulam can be generally utilized in service class??1.     

Hydroxymethylated resorcinol (HMR) priming agent for improved bondability of wax-treated wood

The effects of hydroxymethylated resorcinol (HMR) on the tensile shear strength of wood joints treated with montan ester wax were studied with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and melamine formaldehyde (MF) adhesives. Untreated specimens which were bonded with MF and PVAc had similar bond strength properties under dry conditions, but MF bonded specimens’ tensile shear strength values were higher than that of PVAc glued specimens under wet conditions. With both adhesives tested, dry tensile shear strengths of wax-treated specimens were in a comparable range to those of untreated wood, while under wet conditions the strength values of wax-treated specimens were significantly lower than those of the controls. HMR priming increased the shear strength of PVAc bonded specimens under wet conditions and of MF-bonded specimens under dry and wet conditions. The effect on MF-bonded specimens, however, was much more pronounced under wet conditions.     

Potential of tannin extracts as resorcinol replacements in cold cure thermoset adhesives

Blends of phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) resin with tannin obtained from bark offers the potential to minimise the quantity of resorcinol required in conventional two pot, cold set PRF wood adhesives. In the presence of ammonia, both quebracho and radiata pine bark extracts, resorcinolic and phloroglucinolic type tannins respectively, showed accelerated adhesive cure behaviour with formaldehyde, in a similar manner to PRF adhesive Greenweld technology for modifying glued timber processing rates. Segregation of pine bark components established that only tannin-containing fractions exhibited accelerated adhesive cure behaviour. Results from adhesive testing indicated adhesive blends of quebracho extract and PRF resin failed to attain satisfactory bond strength at full cure. Of the pine bark components, only a pure tannin fraction produced acceptable bond strength when blended with PRF (3:1). The study indicated pine bark extract can be substituted into PRF adhesives and adhesive cure rate accelerated using ammonia. However, extracts containing crude tannin or carbohydrate materials in adhesive blends led to inferior adhesives.     

人工林杉木胶合工艺优化研究

采用SAS全因子试验设计,研究了胶粘剂类型、涂胶量、单位压力、加压时间和胶合面纹理五个因子对人工林杉木木材胶合性能的影响,并对其胶合工艺进行了优化。研究结果表明:胶粘剂类型对杉木木材常态胶合剪切强度和木破率的影响不显著,但是老化处理后API和PF的胶合剪切强度和木破率比PVAc和UF的要高;在以API为胶粘剂时,涂胶量、单位压力、加压时间和胶合面纹理对杉木胶合剪切强度和木破率的影响显著,优化的胶合工艺为涂胶量250g/cm2,单位压力1.5 MPa,加压时间50 min和胶合面纹理为弦切面-弦切面。     

Experimental analysis on small-scale finger-jointed specimens at elevated temperatures

Finger joints have to meet strength performance requirements for the use in structural engineered wood products such as glued-laminated timber beams (glulam). Among these, the thermal stability of the adhesive used in the finger joint is an important criterion to determine the suitability of the connection. The influence of adhesives on the load-carrying capacity of glulam beams and finger-jointed members can be assessed by large-scale fire tests; however, there are obvious benefits in using small-scale specimens tested at elevated temperatures as an alternative. In Europe, there is currently no small-scale test available to test the fire performance of adhesives in structural timber members. The work presented in this paper addresses this issue and was supported by members of a European standardisation committee to develop such a small-scale test. This paper presents, as a first step, the results of a series of tensile tests on small-scale finger-jointed specimens tested at elevated temperatures. The tests were performed with different types of adhesives which are currently also tested in large-scale fire tests. In the small-scale tests here, structural adhesives showed nearly no weaknesses with increasing temperature up to 140 °C. Further, MUF and PRF adhesives showed mostly wood failure even up to temperatures of 220 °C. In the next step of this investigation, the results obtained from the small-scale tests at elevated temperature will be compared to large-scale fire test results in order to find a possible link between both testing methods.     

Structural bonding of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.): resistance to delamination and performance in shearing tests

The utilization of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) allows for a significant enhancement of the load-bearing capacity in structural laminated products. However, such applications fundamentally require high-strength and durable bonds between lamellas and in finger joints. Therefore, the aim of the present survey was to evaluate ash bondings in terms of resistance to delamination (EN 302-2) and shear performance (EN 392). Investigations were performed with five adhesives: phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF-1, MUF-2), polyurethane (PUR), emulsion polymer isocyanate (EPI) and varying closed assembly times as key bonding parameter. For all tested adhesives and closed assembly times, the shear test showed high wood failure percentages and bond strength values that compare to solid ash. In contrast, for resistance to delamination, significant differences were found between the adhesives as well as between closed assembly times, with improving resistance to delamination for increasing closed assembly times. The best performance was determined for the PRF-adhesive and long closed assembly times. However, standard requirements for resistance to delamination could not be met by any of the adhesives. The resistance to delamination showed no correlation with the shear performance for any of the adhesives. Microscopic examination of the bonded joints revealed that both the penetration behavior of the adhesives and glueline thicknesses clearly correlated with the closed assembly time.     

The evaluation of panel bond quality and durability of hem-fir cross-laminated timber (CLT)

To better use the second-growth wood resources in value-added applications, this work addressed the manufacturing aspects of cross-laminated timber (CLT) products from western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg) and amabilis fir (Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes) (or hem-fir) harvested from coastal British Columbia, Canada. Small CLT billets (nominal 610 mm?×?610 mm) were made to examine CLT bond quality and durability through block shear and delamination tests. Two types of adhesives, single-component polyurethane (PUR) and emulsion polymer isocyanate (EPI) and two critical applied pressure parameters (0.28 and 0.83 MPa) were adopted to manufacture hem-fir CLT. It was found that the adhesive type and applied pressure significantly affected wood failure percentage (WFP) and delamination of hem-fir CLT. When PUR adhesive was used, CLT made at 0.83 MPa pressure yielded significantly higher WFP and lower delamination than that made at 0.28 MPa pressure. The results demonstrated that despite the fact that hem-fir lumber is not particularly specified in the current North American CLT standard, it could be used for manufacturing CLT with the required panel bond quality.     

Properties of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) made with low density hardwood species: effect of the pressure duration

Cross-linked polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) adhesive and thin veneers of three low density wood species, namely silver maple, yellow poplar and aspen, were used to produce LVL engineered wood products using different press durations. Density, water absorption, thickness swelling, flexural strength and surface hardness were evaluated. Internal bond strength, tensile shear and block shear strengths were tested in dry, accelerated (boiling and dry) and cyclic (wet and dry) conditions. LVL made using cross-linked polyvinyl acetate and silver maple with a platen temperature of 38 °C for 5 minutes exhibited the best properties. LVL of silver maple veneers showed improved properties as compared to yellow poplar and aspen. Silver maple can be used suitably in laminated veneer flooring.     

Development and optimization of a new formaldehyde-free cornstarch and tannin wood adhesive

The development and optimization of a new, environment-friendly adhesive made from abundant and renewable cornstarch and tannin is described in this study. At present, the production of wood composites mainly relies on petrochemical- and formaldehyde-based adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Formaldehyde-free cornstarch plus tannin adhesives were evaluated for mechanical and physical properties (shear strength, rheological characterisation and thermogravimetric analysis). First, optimized conditions for the preparation of cornstarch-sodium hydroxide wood adhesives were determined. The parameters studied were the following: total solids content of the adhesives, sodium hydroxide concentration and sodium hydroxide/cornstarch volume ratio. The highest shear strength results appeared to be 0.5 sodium hydroxide/cornstarch volume ratio when using concentrations of cornstarch (65% p/v H₂O) and sodium hydroxide (33% p/v H₂O). The optimum cure temperature was 170 °C and the cure time 4 min. The addition of two types of tannin-based adhesives, Mimosa and Quebracho, with hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine) hardener to the cornstarch-sodium hydroxide formulation improved the shear strength and decreased the viscosity of adhesives.     

Adhesive bonding of beech wood modified with a phenol formaldehyde compound

Untreated (controls) and phenol–formaldehyde (PF)-modified beech wood (10 and 25?% solid content) were glued with phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). Shear strength of PRF-bonded specimens was higher than that of PVAc-bonded ones under dry and wet conditions irrespective of the pre-treatment. Under dry conditions, only PVAc-bonded specimens exhibited reduction in shear strength due to PF-modification with 25?% PF concentration as compared to the controls. PF treated wood provided inferior bonding under wet conditions with the exception of 25?% PF concentration specimens glued with PRF adhesive. Modification with PF resulted in a decrease of adhesive penetration into the porous network of interconnected cells, especially at 25?% PF concentration.     

Properties of laboratory made yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) laminated veneer lumber: effect of the adhesives

Four different commercial resin formulations namely cross-linked polyvinyl acetate (XPVAc), melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), urea formaldehyde (UF) and melamine formaldehyde (MF) were used to produce laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from yellow poplar veneers in the laboratory. Physical and mechanical properties were evaluated using ASTM (D 1037, D 906, D 5456) standards and compared. Internal bond, tensile shear and block shear strengths of specimens subjected to accelerated (boiled water) and cyclic (repeated cold water) conditions were also determined. Strength properties of yellow poplar LVL were improved compared with the solid wood. The properties of XPVAc bonded LVL were superior or comparable to the thermosetting adhesives. This study clearly indicated that cross-linked PVAc can be used to manufacture LVL with acceptable properties.     

常温固化大豆蛋白胶黏剂制备非结构集成材研究

研究利用豆粉、环氧类固化剂、水性弹性体乳液制备了一种常温固化大豆蛋白胶黏剂,并用于制备非结构集成材。结果表明,胶黏剂最优配方为18 g豆粉、82 g水、2.52 g环氧固化剂、36 g水性弹性体乳液,胶黏剂固体含量27.8%,适用期可达36 h;集成材优化制备工艺为涂胶量190~210 g/m²、加压时间3 h、加压压力0.6 MPa、卸压平衡时间8 h时;制备的集成材干/湿胶合强度分别达到4.14 MPa和1.25 MPa,可耐16 h沸水持续水煮或7个水煮冷冻干燥循环测试,180天室外耐候性能良好,性能优于商用水性异氰酸酯胶黏剂,成本降低41.6%。胶黏剂的制备工艺和非结构集成材产品质量满足工业化生产要求。     

胶黏剂种类对人造板内结合强度检测结果的影响

使用聚乙酸乙烯酯乳液(PVAc)、单组份聚氨酯(PUR)和热熔胶(EVA)3种胶黏剂粘结金属卡头与试件,检测并分析它们对强化木地板和地板基材用纤维板内结合强度检测结果的影响。结果表明:使用PUR粘结时检测的内结合强度值比使用PVAc、EVA高,其中强化木地板内结合强度高出0.47MPa,地板基材用纤维板内结合强度高出约0.40MPa。     

胶黏剂种类对人造板内结合强度检测结果的影响

使用聚乙酸乙烯酯乳液（PVAc）、单组份聚氨酯（PUR）和热熔胶（EVA）3种胶黏剂粘结金属卡头与试件,检测并分析它们对强化木地板和地板基材用纤维板内结合强度检测结果的影响。结果表明：使用PUR粘结时检测的内结合强度值比使用PVAc、EVA高,其中强化木地板内结合强度高出0.47MPa,地板基材用纤维板内结合强度高出约0.40MPa。     

A semi-automatic method to determine the wood failure percentage on shear test specimens

An alternative method to quantitatively determine the wood failure percentage on shear test specimens was developed, experimentally tested and successfully applied to specimens with typical combinations of adhesive types and wood species used by the glulam industry in Switzerland. The method consists of a staining technique for a better differentiation of wood fibers and adhesive, and an image processing procedure for a standardized estimation of the fractured surface ratio covered by wood fibers and adhesive, respectively. The semi-automatic method allows for a more objective determination of wood failure percentage and is suitable for quality control in the glulam industry.     

Thermal stability of glued wood joints measured by shear tests

The thermal stability of glued wood joints is an important criterion to determine the suitability of adhesives in the field of engineered wood. During their product life, glued wood joints can be exposed to high temperatures in various ways (direct exposure to the sun, fire, etc.). Thereby the cohesiveness of the adhesive must not degrade. This raises the question of how the strength of bonding changes under thermal load. The current investigation covers the influence of temperature (T=20 to 220°C) on the shear strength of glued wood joints. Different adhesive systems were investigated. With increasing temperature, the shear strength of solid wood and also of glued wood joints decreased. There were big differences in thermal stability and failure behaviour between the adhesive systems as well as within the polyurethane group. The thermal stability of one-component polyurethane systems can be greatly varied by modifying their chemical structure. Well adapted one-component polyurethane adhesives reach a strength similar to that of phenol resorcinol resin.     

Changes in dimensional stability and mechanical properties of Eucalyptus pellita by melamine–urea–formaldehyde resin impregnation and heat treatment

This study investigated the influence of heat treatment on the dimensional stability and mechanical properties of untreated and low molecular weight melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) resin treated Eucalyptus pellita wood. Wood samples were heat treated under vacuum atmosphere in laboratory conditions at temperatures between 160 and 240 °C for 2–10 h. The results showed that anti-shrink efficiency and anti-swelling efficiency of MUF resin-impregnated heat-treated eucalypt wood were improved by up to 47 and 49 % at 240 °C for 10 h separately, which were greater than those of heat-treated wood. In relation to mechanical properties, the modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture decreased with increasing temperature and time, but the reduction of properties appeared to be smaller for MUF resin-impregnated heat-treated wood. Therefore, heat treatment combined with resin treatment of eucalypt wood shows potential to improve the wood quality of solid wood products.     

Characterization of a formaldehyde-free cornstarch-tannin wood adhesive for interior plywood

This study investigated the physical properties (rheological and thermogravimetric analysis) of cornstarch-tannin adhesives and the mechanical properties (dry tensile strength and 3-point bending strength) of plywood made using cornstarch-tannin adhesives. This adhesive was evaluated for its utility in interior plywood manufacture. The optimum cure temperature and cure time of cornstarch-tannin adhesives were 170°C and 4?min, respectively. Plywood bonded with formaldehyde-free cornstarch-tannin adhesive exhibited excellent mechanical properties comparable to commercially available phenol-formaldehyde plywood adhesives. It was found that cornstarch-tannin panels which do not contain formaldehyde and with an emission equal to that of heated but unbound wood can be obtained by the use of hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine) as hardener. The work has indicated that an environmentally friendly wood adhesive can be prepared from a natural renewable resource (cornstarch and wattle tannin) for bonding interior-type plywood.     

Bondline shear strength and wood failure of European and tropical hardwood glulams

The study reports on block shear investigations with bondlines of face-glued laminations and matched solid wood specimens from hardwood glulam (GLT) beams produced industrially from eight technically and stand volume-wise important species. The European hardwoods comprised oak, beech, sweet chestnut and ash and the tropical species were teak, keruing, melangangai and light red meranti. The adhesives were phenol-resorcinol and melamine-urea. When combining all species in one sample, a rather strong linear relationship of bond and wood shear strength was observed. The ratio of bond vs. wood shear strength was for all species on the mean value level?≥?0.9, and likewise (with one exception) for the respective strengths’ 5%-quantiles. Consistent with literature, the test results showed no significant correlations between bond shear strength and density, wood shear strength and wood failure percentage of individual species, respectively. The investigations render the methodological basics of some international standards on bond quality verification as being inappropriate. New, empirically validated hardwood GLT bond requirements are proposed for discussion and implementation at the CEN and ISO levels. The strength ratio specifications reflect respective ANSI provisions, yet the reference quantity wood shear strength is now determined in an unbiased manner from matched GLT specimens. The wood failure verification proposal is based on the 10%-quantile and mean level for initial type testing and factory production control. The requirements further account for the pronounced difference observed in scatter of wood failure between European and tropical species.