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Notices Federal Register

54432

Vol. 62, No. 202

Monday, October 20, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Commonality of the Chemistries

Involved in Moisture, Biological,

Ultraviolet, and Thermal Degradations

of Wood; Notice of Intent To Enter Into

Cooperative Research and

Development Agreements

Program Description—Purpose

The USDA, Forest Service, Forest

Products Laboratory (FPL) is seeking

industrial partners to enter into

Cooperative Research and Development

Agreements (CRADAs) dedicated to

understanding the commonality of the

chemistries involved in moisture,

biological, ultraviolet, and thermal

degradations of wood, and developing

basic approaches to protecting wood

from degradation without loss of other

basic properties, under the authority of

the Federal Technology Transfer Act of

1986 (15 U.S.C. 3710a).

An industrial partner may be a

Federal Agency, university, private

business, nonprofit organization,

research or engineering entity, or

combination of the above.

A summary of the current status of

preventing wood degradation is as

follows:

(a) Wood is a three-dimensional,

polymeric composite made up primarily

of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin.

These polymers, along with extractives

and inorganics, and the matrix they are

in, make up the cell wall and are

responsible for the characteristics,

properties and performance of wood.

When considering wood as a long

term engineering material it must be

remembered that wood is a hygroscopic

resource that was designed to perform,

in nature, in a wet environment and that

nature is programmed to recycle wood

in a timely way through biological,

thermal, aqueous, photochemical,

chemical, and mechanical degradations.

There are four basic chemical

reactions involved in all the degradation

reactions of wood: oxidation,

hydrolysis, reduction, and dehydration.

Because of the similarities in

degradation chemistry, all these

degradation reactions will be studied

together.

Cell wall polymers and responsible

for the properties of wood. Wood

changes dimension with changing

moisture content because the cell wall

polymers contain hydroxyl and other

oxygen-containing groups that attract

moisture through hydrogen bonding.

The hemicelluloses are mainly

responsible for moisture sorption, but

the accessible cellulose, noncrystalline

cellulose, lignin, and surface of

crystalline cellulose also play minor

parts to major roles. Moisture swells the

cell wall and the wood expands until

the cell wall is saturated with water

(fiber saturation point (FSP)). Beyond

this saturation point, moisture exists as

free water in the void structure and does

not contribute to further expansion. The

process is reversible and the wood

shrinks as it loses moisture below the

FSP.

Wood exposed to moisture frequently

is not at equilibrium and has wet areas

and drier areas. This exacerbates the

moisture problem resulting in

differential swelling followed by

cracking and/or compression set. Over

the long term, wood undergoes cyclic

swelling and shrinking as moisture

levels change resulting in more severe

moisture effects than those encountered

under steady moisture conditions.

Wood is degraded biologically

because organisms recognize the

carbohydrate polymers (mainly the

hemicelluloses) in the cell wall and

have both specific and non-specific

chemical and specific enzyme systems

capable of hydrolyzing these polymers

into digestible units. Biodegradation of

both the matrix and the high molecular

weight cellulose weakens the fiber cell

wall. Strength is lost as the matrix and

cellulose polymer undergo degradation

through oxidation, hydrolysis, and

dehydration reactions. As degradation

continues, removal of cell wall content

results in weight loss.

Wood exposed outdoors undergoes

photochemical degradation caused by

ultraviolet radiation. This degradation

takes place primarily in the lignin

component, which is responsible for the

characteristic color changes. The surface

becomes richer in cellulose content as

the lignin degrades. In comparison to

lignin, cellulose is much less

susceptible to ultraviolet radiation

degradation. After the lignin has been

degraded, the poorly bonded

carbohydrate-rich fibers erode easily

from the surface, which exposes new

lignin to further degradative reactions.

In time, the ‘‘weathering’’ process

causes the surface of the composite to

become rough and can account for a

significant loss in surface fibers.

Wood burns because the cell wall

polymers undergo pyrolysis reactions

with increasing temperature to give off

volatile, flammable gasses. The

hemicelluloses and cellulose polymers

are degraded by heat much before the

lignin. The lignin and carbohydrate

components contribute to char

formation, and the charred layer helps

insulate the composite from further

thermal degradation.

The idea of protecting wood in

adverse environments dates back to

early human history. Perhaps the

earliest reference is in the Old

Testament (Genesis 6:14) when God

instructed Noah to build an ark of

gopher wood (a naturally durable and

hard wood) and cover it inside and

outside with pitch (for both water

repellency and decay protection).

Ancient civilization in Burma, China,

Greece, and Italy used various animal,

vegetable and mineral oils, tars, pitches

or charring to preserve wood. Sometime

during the second half of the eighteenth

century, the science of wood

preservation started with a search for

toxic chemicals that could be used to

treat wood to stop decay. The time line

might include: Mercuric chloride first

used in 1705, patented in 1832; copper

sulfate first introduced in 1767,

patented in 1839; zinc chloride first

used in 1815; creosote first used in

1836; copper, chromium and arsenic

salts introduced in the early 1900’s; and

pentachlorophenol first introduced in

the 1930’s. All of these treatments were

based on broad spectra toxicity with

little concern for environmental

implications.

The earliest references to treating

wood for fire retardancy dates back to

the first century AD when the Romans

used alum and vinegar to protect boats

against fire. The science of fire

retardancy started in the first half of the
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Notices 54433

nineteenth century. In 1820 Gay-Lussac

used ammonium phosphates and borax

as fire retardants. Most of the inorganic

fire retardants used today were

developed between 1800 and 1870.

Protecting wood from moisture

damage also dates back into antiquity.

Waxes, oils, resins, paints, and coatings

have been used to help exclude

moisture since shortly after wood was

first used by humans.

Protecting wood from damage caused

by weathering also dates from the early

use of wood. Stains and coatings have

been used to cover wood from the

degradation caused both by water and

ultraviolet radiation.

The process of protecting wood from

one type of degradation can cause

another type of degradation to take

place. For example, in fire retardant

formulations involving free phosphoric

acid, treated wood has been shown to

lose strength. While the wood is very

effectively treated for fire retardancy,

service life is shortened by the loss in

strength. Similarly, wood decking

treated with chromated-copper-arsenate

(CCA), while having excellent antifungal properties, is being replaced after

a few years due to cracking and splitting

caused by moisture damage.

Since there are only four basic

chemistries involved in the degradation

mechanisms of wood (hydrolysis,

oxidation, dehydration, and reduction),

there are many similarities in the

degradation pathways regardless of the

source of the degradation. Through a

better understanding of these common

degradation chemistries, it should be

possible to protect wood in a more

holistic way. That is, controlling one

degradation chemistry can lead to the

protection of another degradation

mechanism. This leads to the idea of

combined treatments to control several

degradation pathways.

The Forest Products Laboratory is

requesting support for this project. The

support is in the form of funding in the

amount of $15,000.00 per year for the

two-year proposed duration of the

study.

An informational and organizational

meeting of the Consortium will be held

beginning November 18, 1997, 1:00 P.M.

and ending November 19, 1997, at 12:00

Noon, at the USDA, Forest Service,

Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford

Pinchot Drive, Madison, Wisconsin

53705–2398.

Technical questions may be directed

to Roger M. Rowell at the above address,

by fax at (608) 231–9262, or by phone

at (608) 231–9416.

Questions of a business or legal nature

may be directed to John G. Bachhuber

at the above address, by fax at (608)

231–9585, or by phone at (608) 231–

9282.

A copy of the proposed Cooperative

Research and Development Agreement

to be executed by consortium members

may be obtained by writing Joanne M.

Bosch at the above address, by faxing

her at (608) 231–9585, or by phoning

her at (608) 231–9205.

Done at Madison, WI, on October 10, 1997.

Thomas E. Hamilton,

Director.

[FR Doc. 97–27649 Filed 10–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

‘‘FEDERAL REGISTER’’ CITATION OF

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: 62 FR 52325.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED TIME AND DATE OF

MEETING: 10 a.m., Thursday, October 23,

1997.

CHANGES IN THE DATE: The Commodity

Futures Trading Commission has

cancelled the meeting to discuss

program objectives.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–27802 Filed 10–16–97; 1:43 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11:00 a.m., Friday,

November 28, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St. N.W., Washington,

D.C. 9th Floor Conference Room.

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–27803 Filed 10–16–97; 1:13 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11 a.m., Friday,

November 21, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St. NW., Washington,

DC, 9th Floor Conference Room.

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–27804 Filed 10–16–97; 1:31 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11:00 a.m., Friday,

November 14, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St. N.W., Washington,

D.C. 9th Floor Conference Room.

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–27805 Filed 10–16–97; 1:45 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351–01–M

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:

Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

TIME AND DATE: 11:00 a.m., Friday,

November 7, 1997.

PLACE: 1155 21st St. N.W., Washington,

D.C. 9th Floor Conference Room.

STATUS: Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance

Matters.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean A. Webb, 202–418–5100.

Jean A. Webb,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–27806 Filed 10–16–97; 1:36 pm]

BILLING CODE 6351––M