Abstract Thermal modification is a well-established commercial technology for improving the dimensional stability and durability of timber. Numerous reviews thermally modified timber (TMT) are to be found in scientific literature, but until now review influence cell wall moisture content during process on properties TMT has been lacking. This paper current state knowledge regarding hygroscopic behaviour under dry (cell at nearly zero content) wet contains moisture) conditions. After an...

Wood modifications are becoming popular as a way to enhance the performance of wood, either make it more durable, improve or give new functionality multifunctional smart material. While wood have been examined since early 1900s, topic has become dominant area study in science over past decade. This review summarizes recent advances and provides future perspective on selection modifications, i.e., methods that currently commercialized (acetylation, furfurylation, thermal modification),...

Abstract The purpose of this review is to report on the state-of-the-art interaction moisture with natural materials and fabricated biomimetic functional materials, an emphasis upon hygro-responsive behaviour wood. primary objective examine how water sorption affects dimensional knowledge property in plant-based (mainly, but not exclusively wood) can be used inform design moisture-responsive devices. study examines literature bio-inspired concentrating kinetics, migration location sorbed...

Abstract Wood and other cellulosic materials are highly sensitive to changes in moisture content, which affects their use most applications. We investigated the effects of on nanoscale structure wood using X-ray neutron scattering, complemented by dynamic vapor sorption. The studied set samples included tension normal hardwood as well representatives two softwood species. Their nanostructure was characterized wet state before after first drying at relative humidities between 15 90%....

Wood modification improves the properties of wood as a building material by altering structure on cellular level. This study investigated how dimensional changes macroscopic scale are related to level chemical micron after impregnation with melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin under different heat curing conditions. Our results showed that conditions affected polycondensation reactions and morphological MF within cell lumen. The diffusion into wall was estimated based triazine ring vibration in...

Abstract Thermally modified wood (TMW) is currently produced commercially by a range of processes across many countries. A prerequisite the commercial success an efficient quality control (QC), and methods with this regard are discussed in review. When direct measurement key attribute material not feasible, QC based on suitably chosen physical or chemical “marker”. critical evaluation applied markers reveals that most them only provide data for comparative purposes particular species and/or...

Abstract Acetylation greatly increases the decay resistance of wood, but even highly acetylated wood can be degraded by fungi if given sufficient time. This study investigated degradation brown rot fungus Rhodonia placenta , aiming to understand fungal-induced changes in wood-water relations that are associated with decay. Acetylated samples as well unacetylated references were exposed R. a stacked-sample test generate different stages The decayed used investigate acetyl content, water...

Abstract European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) was thermally modified in a closed reactor system under various process conditions. Sorption cycles, dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) measurements, and three-point bending test were performed on wood (TMW) to assess hygroscopicity mechanical properties. As function of mass loss (ML), the initial equilibrium moisture content (EMC) measured at 20°C/65% relative humidity (RH) directly after strongly influenced by RH during process. This effect is...

Abstract Impregnation modification of wood with melamine formaldehyde resin reduces the adverse effects caused by moisture uptake, but underlying modes action are not fully understood. The present study showed that it is crucial to understand sorption behavior pure when interpreting resin-modified wood. Furthermore, applied heat-curing conditions had a significant effect on uptake At same loads, dry curing were more effective in causing cell wall bulking than wet conditions. This reduced...

Abstract Wood and other plant-based resources provide abundant, renewable raw materials for a variety of applications. Nevertheless, their utilization would greatly benefit from more efficient accurate methods to characterize the detailed nanoscale architecture plant cell walls. Non-invasive techniques such as neutron X-ray scattering hold promise elucidating hierarchical wall structure any changes in its morphology, but use is hindered by challenges interpreting experimental data. We used...

Abstract Improving the interaction between wood cell wall and a modifying agent is fundamental to enhancing efficacy of modification. The extent is, nevertheless, difficult evaluate due highly heterogeneous nature modified wood. In this study, methacryl groups were grafted onto polymers, via reaction 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEMA) hydroxyl groups, improve their compatibility reactivity. Subsequently, methyl (MMA) was introduced into methacrylated copolymerized with bonded groups....

The cellulosic fiber-based sustainable textile industry needs greener alternatives to the existing hydrophobization approaches—which are essentially based on nonrenewable and expensive hydrophobizing agents adversely impact environment. Herein, we report production of novel hydrophobic cellulose fibers produced by incorporating nature-derived additives—betulin (BE) betulinic acid (BA) using Ioncell technology. incorporation process is simple does not require any additional step during...

Abstract Water interactions and accessibility of the nanoscale components plant cell walls influence their properties processability in relation to many applications. We investigated water-accessibility pores within fibrillar structures unmodified Norway spruce by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. The different sensitivity SANS hydrogenated ( $$\hbox {H}_2\hbox {O}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow>...

This research investigates wood defects, particularly the formation of surface cracks, during production thermally modified and its exposure to cyclic moisture changes. Boards Norway spruce Scots pine originating from different steps within ThermoWood® were collected defects investigated at macroscopic microscopic scale. Subsequently, was exposed capillary wetting cycles record sensitivity towards cracking. After modification process, typical anatomical conventional kiln-drying became more...

Abstract Cyclic N -methylol compounds such as 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) have been used to modify wood and prevent negative effects related the uptake of moisture. However, changes in sorption behavior by treatments with DMDHEU its derivatives are not fully understood. In present study, blocks were treated DMDHEU, ether-modified diethyleneglycolated order study factors that control moisture hygroscopic range (0–95% RH). Dimensional during water soaking cycles suggested...

Abstract Cellulose utilization at its full potential often requires dissolution which is challenging. Aqueous NaOH the solvent of choice due to rapid, non-toxic, low cost and environmentally friendly process. However, there are several limitations, such as required temperature cellulose´s moderately degree polymerization concentration. Moreover, a tendency for gelation semidilute solutions with time temperature. The addition ZnO aids cellulose hinders self-aggregation in solution; however,...