The compatibility of two common fast-growing species with Portland cement

• DOI: 10.1007/s13196-012-0081-4
• Publication Date: 2012-10-24T02:41:36Z
• Authors: Xue Wang; Youming Yu
• Keywords: 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology

Two fast-growing species in China, Chinese fir and poplar, were chosen in order to examine whether they can be compatible with Portland cement in processing cement particleboard. Through monitoring hydration parameters and comparing the curves with neat cement, it turns out that Chinese fir is well compatible with cement and can be used as material to produce cement particleboard directly while poplar was found to be inhibitory. After treated with cold-water and hot-water, both of the species’ inhibition on cement hydration decreased. The compatibility index CA of poplar increased from 24.3 % to 63.4 % after being pretreated with cold-water and to 78.3 % after hot-water pretreatment. The influence of wood extractive of the given species on hydration of cement was also determined. Based on these results, we find that either cold-water or hot-water extractive of Chinese fir has little inhibition on cement hydration, while poplar’s deters the hydration; besides, hot-water facilitates the inhibition on cement, especially for inhibitory poplar.