bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Wood Household Furniture and Kitchen Cabinet Industries: A Contrast in Fortune
Authors: Luppold William G. , Bumgardner Matthew S.
Published: October 2013

In 1977, the value of wood household furniture shipments from domestic manufacturers exceeded kitchen cabinet shipments by 170 percent; conversely, in 2006, shipments of cabinets exceeded shipments of furniture by 78 percent. The most apparent reason for the decrease in domestic furniture shipments is the increase in furniture imports, whereas cabinet demand has increased because of the popularity of larger kitchens and the robust housing market prior to 2006. However, there also are less apparent factors. A large portion of domestically produced wood furniture is sold to consumers from retail stores whose buyers ordered product at semiannual furniture markets. Meanwhile, a growing volume of cabinets are designed and ordered by consumers at home improvement centers. Furniture manufacturers carry large volumes of finished products in inventory, while cabinet manufacturers carry low inventories. Furniture has become a quasi commodity that is priced within narrow ranges depending on quality, whereas sale methods for semicustom and custom cabinets allow consumers to order the species, finishes, and features they want. The price competitiveness of the furniture industry has allowed imports to become the major source of product. The need to price furniture at levels competitive with imports has also resulted in a greater use of composite materials versus lumber and dimension stock. By contrast, kitchen cabinet manufacturers are using greater volumes of lumber and dimension. While these factors have resulted in a contrast in fortune for the wood household furniture and cabinet industries in the United States, possible opportunities exist for the reemergence of parts of the domestic furniture industry.
Evaluating Warp of 2 by 4s Sawn from Panels Produced through Green Gluing Dimension Lumber from Small Ponderosa Pine Logs
Authors: Bergman Richard D. , Simpson William T. , Turk Christopher
Published: October 2013

Overstocked small-diameter softwood timber in western US forests has created a serious forest health and fire hazard, and the costs of removing this material are high. One way to lower costs is to reduce loss because of warp on lumber sawn from these small logs. Using a green-gluing process, standard 38 by 89-mm (nominal 2 by 4-in.) pieces (2 by 4s) ripped from pressed panels of edge-glued (edge-glued-and-rip [EGAR]) boards sawn from small ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) logs were evaluated for warp reduction. Material was bonded at high moisture content (MC) to simulate lumber freshly sawn from water-saturated logs and examine potential MC effects on wood–wood bonding. We selected a liquid, one-component, fast-curing, cold-setting polyurethane for green gluing wood. Results showed statistically significant reduction in bow (P < 0.001) and twist (P < 0.001) and no statistical difference in crook (P = 0.321) for EGAR boards compared with conventional 2 by 4s before planing. After planing and equilibrating, EGAR boards showed statistically significant increases in crook (P < 0.001) and bow (P < 0.001) but maintained a statistically significant reduction in twist (P < 0.001). Lumber quality decreased after planing and equilibrating to 12 percent MC. Because of high MC in flitches during the green-gluing process, bondline failures sometimes occurred, distorting the final results. High amount of bondline failure after planing and equalizing indicates this process is unfeasible as tested. Greater MC control during green gluing may reduce warp to allow more effective utilization of these small logs.
Trials on the Efficacy of Micronized Copper in Australia
Authors: Cookson L. J. , Creffield J. W. , McCarthy K. J. , Scown D. K.
Published: October 2013

Alkaline copper quat (ACQ) is an established wood preservative that is formulated with solubilized copper in amine solvent. This article describes three separate trials in Australia that investigated whether substituting soluble copper with micronized copper affects performance. ACQ and micronized copper quat (MCQ) performed similarly in Pinus radiata against four brown-rot fungi in a soil-block bioassay, while MCQ performed slightly better against two white-rot fungi in Eucalyptus delegatensis. A 2.3-year in-ground stake trial in the wet tropics at Innisfail also found that ACQ and MCQ performed comparably in P. radiata and Corymbia maculata. This was a severe test site with attack caused by soft-rot fungi, white-rot fungi, and termites. An H3 (outside, aboveground) field test against termites in Darwin showed that ACQ- or MCQ-treated P. radiata and C. maculata performed similarly against Coptotermes acinaciformis and Mastotermes darwiniensis. These trials demonstrated that MCQ performs comparably to ACQ under the test conditions used.
The Potential Certified Wood Supply Chain Bottleneck and Its Impact on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Construction Projects in New York State
Authors: Germain René H. , Penfield Patrick C.
Published: October 2013

Sustainability is playing a larger role in how we construct buildings. Many organizations are trying to reduce the life-cycle costs of their buildings by using “green building” practices. Currently, the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program dominates the building certification scheme. Most new construction projects require a substantial amount of wood. The only approved wood source that can help qualify new construction for LEED certification is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified wood. Given the dramatic increase in new green construction, this study assessed the availability and use of FSC wood in LEED certification projects throughout New York State (NYS). We surveyed architects working on LEED projects to determine how FSC-certified wood was used and if they were having difficulty acquiring such wood. We suspected a green supply chain bottleneck at the sawmill level may impact end users in the LEED certification process. Our results indicate that architects are very knowledgeable about FSC wood and would like to incorporate it into their designs. We found no issues in sourcing FSC wood for LEED projects. Although architects prefer to buy locally, many must procure FSC wood outside of NYS. Many architects are paying a premium price for FSC wood, which may impact their decision to use it on future LEED construction projects.
Demand Drivers and Price Supports for Bioethanol Use as Fuel in the United States: A Brief Review
Authors: Lu Ning , Rice Robert W.
Published: October 2013

Fuel ethanol, especially cellulosic ethanol, is likely to play an important role in renewable fuel development. This article reviews the main factors that currently drive fuel ethanol demand in the United States. In the short term, the phaseout of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is important. In the long run, federal and state price support policies will play a dominant role in fuel ethanol demand. Both major demand factors and the current status of cellulosic ethanol manufacture are discussed. The current state of technology and the high capital cost for cellulosic ethanol production when compared with corn-based ethanol are major barriers to expanding the markets.
Biocide Retention Variation and Gradients in Commercially Treated 4 by 4s
Authors: Schultz T. P. , Nicholas Darrel D.
Published: October 2013

Biocide retentions for copper-based wood preservatives used for residential ground-contact applications are established through field stake tests using small research stakes cut from selected sapwood and then treated in laboratory cylinders. The results from the relatively short-term field tests are then used to specify retentions for commercially treated timbers that have a range of densities and heartwood content. More than 120 4 by 4s that had been commercially treated with four copper-based systems readily available were purchased, with the posts carefully selected for good biocide penetration and a wide outer sapwood band, and analyzed for biocide retentions. Also, biocide gradients from five soluble copper and three particulate copper commercially treated 4 by 4s, all having the same labeled retention, were determined. All four systems gave a range of analyzed retentions, with some fraction of the timbers of each preservative system having a relatively low biocide level. In contrast to previous reports, the biocide gradient for wood treated with a soluble copper formulation was less steep than in wood treated with a particulate copper system.
Effects of 9 Months of Weather Exposure on Slash Bundles in the Mid-South
Authors: Patterson David W. , Hartley Jonathan I. , Pelkki Matthew H. , Steele Philip H.
Published: October 2013

With more interest in using woody biomass as an energy resource, the John Deere 1490D slash bundler is gaining in popularity for extracting logging residues from harvest sites. In the Mid-South, the winters are wet, and extraction from the forest is limited; therefore, energy facilities store up to 6 months of material to survive the reduced logging output. This study's goal was to determine if the slash bundles would be a good storage medium for wet winter storage. Five bundles from each of four different harvest sites were placed in open storage in southeastern Arkansas during July and inspected monthly through April. After the April inspection, a 5 percent sample was cut from each bundle and analyzed for British thermal unit (Btu) value per ovendry pound. The results indicated that the bundles would maintain their structural integrity through winter storage and that the Btu value per ovendry pound after the exposure was only slightly less than the average value used for wood (8,376 compared with 8,600). This would indicate that slash bundles would be a very good medium for storing these residues during the winter months.
Quality Measurement in the Wood Products Supply Chain
Authors: Espinoza Omar A. , Bond Brian H. , Kline Earl
Published: October 2013

In this article we report the first in-depth investigation of quality measurement practices from a supply chain perspective. Quality measurement in a wood products supply chain was studied in great detail with the objective of increasing the understanding of quality performance measurement practices in a secondary wood products supply chain. Opportunities for improvement were also identified. A single-case study was used as the main research approach, with 30 interviews and observation as major data collection methods. Findings revealed a high degree of internal integration in the focal company, made possible in great part by a continuous improvement effort that expands all of its facilities. Opportunities for improvement were found in external integration, particularly regarding supplier quality management. A disconnect was identified between supply chain members in regard to quality information; particularly, there was a lack of true supply chain quality measures reflecting the contribution of each entity to the overall quality. Results from this research highlight the importance of adopting a systems perspective when designing a supply chain performance measurement system. Poor quality at any point in the supply chain is detrimental to customer satisfaction, hurts profitability, and eventually translates into higher costs for downstream business segments and for the final customer; the end result is a decline in competitiveness of the entire system.
Hardwood Lumber Buyer Purchase Attributes and Relationships with Suppliers
Authors: Dasmohapatra Sudipta , Gonzalez Ronalds W.
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine product and supplier attributes that influence purchase decisions of hardwood lumber buyers in the United States. Specifically, this article explores the influence of buyer–seller relationships compared with other attributes. Results of an electronic survey of 78 hardwood lumber buyers in the United States (National Hardwood Lumber Association's hardwood lumber buyers list) show that product quality, followed by relationship with suppliers, overall service, and price are the top four attributes that affect purchase decisions.

Respondent hardwood lumber buyers purchased more than 50 percent of their lumber volume in 2006 from their top two suppliers (Supplier 1 accounted for about 32% and Supplier 2 accounted for 19% of the total purchase volume). When comparing their top supplier with their second most important supplier, buyers indicated that the top supplier provided higher overall satisfaction, seemed more willing to invest resources and time, and had a greater long-term focus. Our results indicate that unless a supplier is the top supplier, opportunities for partnership and future profitability may not be realized.
Fatty Acid–Based Formulations for Wood Protection against Mold and Sapstain
Authors: Clausen Carol A. , Coleman Robert D. , Yang Vina W.
Published: October 2013

Safer, highly effective biocides providing long-term protection of mold growth on wood-based materials is of interest to the wood protection industry. Moldicide formulations containing synergistic combinations of ingredients derived from natural sources are commonly recognized as a promising approach for the next generation of wood protectants. Although fatty acid (FA)–based chemistry has had some development in food sanitation and agriculture, little exploration relating to new mold inhibitors for wood and wood products has occurred. Low molecular weight, saturated monocarboxylic acids combined with selected adjuvants can effectively inhibit mold spore germination. Specifically, formulations containing valeric or pentanoic (C5), hexanoic or caproic (C6), heptanoic (C7), caprylic or octanoic (C8), pelargonic or nonanoic (C9), and/or decanoic or capric (C10) saturated acid demonstrated efficacy against mold growth for up to 12 weeks in the ASTM D4445 standard laboratory test for mold. Pressure-treated wood was more resistant to mold growth than wood dip treated with FA formulations.
Character-Marked Red Alder Lumber from Southeastern Alaska: Profiled Panel Product Preferences by Residential Consumers
Authors: Nicholls David Lee , Barber Valerie
Published: October 2013

Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) lumber is widely used to produce furniture and other secondary wood products. Tongue and groove (T&G) paneling is a product with potential niche applications and requires relatively small investments in processing equipment. As such, it represents potential business opportunities for smaller wood products manufacturers in Alaska. This study considered red alder paneling with various levels of character marks, ranging from clear wood to high levels of character. Residential consumers evaluated four panels in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, and selected their overall favorite panels for potential use in their homes. Character marks, grain consistency, and color also were evaluated for all panels. Statistically significant differences were found between male and female respondents in their attribute ratings for three of the four panels and in color attribute ratings between Anchorage and Fairbanks respondents for the panels with high levels of character. For all four panels, highly significant differences in mean ratings were found among the three attributes (character marks, grain consistency, and color). Market location was generally more significant than gender in influencing attribute ratings. These results suggest that even though strong preferences may exist for clear wood in T&G panels, consumers are able to perceive and rate character mark features differently.
Predicting the Diameter of the Largest Breast-Height Region Branch of Douglas-Fir Trees in Thinned and Fertilized Plantations
Authors: Briggs D. G. , Kantavichai R. , Turnblom E. C.
Published: October 2013

Diameter of the largest limb in the breast height region (DLLBH) of trees is a good predictor of largest limb average diameter, a log knot index used in product recovery studies to predict product grade mix and value. DLLBH was measured on 2,252 Douglas-fir (Pseudostuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees from nine sites each with three plot pairs established at age 6 to 13 years. One of each pair was thinned, and the other was thinned and fertilized with 224 kg ha−1 N as urea at establishment and every four years thereafter. DLLBH was measured at age 21 to 31 years when BH branches were dead. Fractional polynomials were used to develop models to predict DLLBH. One model (radj2 = 0.69, root mean square error [RMSE] = 4.86) used only tree variables: diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, height to crown base, taper, and tree social position in the stand. A model that included treatment (if fertilized or not), stand density, and site index was a significant improvement (radj2 = 0.72, RMSE = 4.62). The tree-variables-only model and the combined tree and stand variables model can be used with individual tree growth models to estimate the distribution of tree DLLBH in a stand for use with process capability analysis to assess conformance with external tree quality specifications. A model using variables measurable with light detection and ranging and knowledge of site index and treatment history was also developed (radj2 = 0.56, RMSE = 5.78). This model suggests that there is an opportunity to use remote sensing to obtain and map (using a geographic information system) preharvest distributions of tree DLLBH in stands across a landscape for harvest scheduling and silvicultural planning.
Residual Extractives in Western Red Cedar Shakes and Shingles after Long-Term Field Testing
Authors: Stirling Rod
Published: October 2013

Western red cedar shakes and shingles were analyzed for extractives after 25 and 33 years of exposure in a field test to better understand the extractives associated with long-term durability. Only minimal concentrations of thujaplicins were found, but plicatic acid was still present in significant quantities. Plicatic acid or other uncharacterized compounds that remain in the wood may play a more important role in the durability of shakes and shingles than previously thought.
Edge Reinforcement of Honeycomb Sandwich Panels
Authors: Sam-Brew Solace , Semple Kate , Smith Gregory D.
Published: October 2013

Protection of the fragile honeycomb core material in hollow-core panels has long been a subject of interest for the manufacturers because it is necessary to seal the panel edges to prevent damage. Traditionally this has been accomplished by using edge banding, which has the added benefit of improving panel bending strength and stiffness. This study focuses on evaluating the effects of edge banding on the bending strength and stiffness properties of honeycomb core panels. The honeycomb panels were made with a combination of different face sheet materials (3-mm hardboard or 6-mm medium-density fiberboard [MDF]), rail types (particleboard or yellow poplar [Liriodendron tulipifera]), and rail widths (10 or 38 mm), and had edge-band materials fixed to their long edges using either direct coating, stabilizer edge, or surface folding techniques.

Panels made with the 6-mm MDF face sheet and 38-mm poplar rails had the highest strength properties. To safely apply edge banding to honeycomb core panels, a solid edge reinforcement material is required to prevent the core material from being crushed during the process. The surface folding technique was the best method of edge banding and significantly enhanced the maximum bending moment of honeycomb core panels—more than twice that of panels without edge banding.
Knee Braces for Bents Constructed with Round Mortise and Tenon Joints
Authors: Haviarova Eva , Eckelman Carl A.
Published: October 2013

Tests were conducted to determine the axial load capacities of knee braces suitable for use in light timber frames constructed with round mortise and tenon joints. To make the knee braces consistent with typical frame construction, the ends of the knee braces were tenoned and did not require machining equipment that was different or more complex than that used for a typical frame. Knee braces with tenons machined perpendicular to the faces of the ends of the braces satisfied these requirements. Three types of braces were investigated; specifically, braces with tenons centrally located on the end-faces of flush-fitting braces, braces with tenons located on the outer edge of the end-faces of flush-fitting braces, and finally, braces with the tenon centrally located on the end-faces of “housed braces,” i.e., braces with the end-faces housed in the sides of the connecting members. Results indicated that all three types of construction had sufficient load capacity to be useful in timber frames constructed with round mortise and tenon joints, but braces with tenons offset toward the outer edge of the end-faces had better structural characteristics than braces with flush ends and centrally located tenons. Finally, knee braces with centrally located tenons and housed ends had substantially greater load capacity than those with unhoused ends.
Study on China's Timber Resource Shortage and Import Structure: Natural Forest Protection Program Outlook, 1998 to 2008
Authors: Yang Hongqiang , Nie Ying , Ji Chunyi
Published: October 2013

The state of China's ecological environment has improved to some extent since the Chinese government initiated the Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) in 1998. The logging prohibition and limitation policies adopted by the NFPP, however, have reduced domestic timber supply. Together with the thriving economy, decreasing domestic timer supply continues to widen the gap between supply and demand. Importation is considered to be the primary solution to this issue, making China the world's largest timber importer. China's major timber suppliers are Russia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Gabon, among which Russia accounts for more than 61 percent of China's total timber imports. The relatively cheaper conifers imported from Russia account for more than 60 percent of all imported timber, with volumes continually increasing because of the rapid pace at which China has been implementing its infrastructure projects. In addition, as living standards continue to improve, requirements for home decor and furniture also grow, further increasing the demand for tropical to temperate timber. In the long term, imports will remain the main solution to the insufficient domestic timber supply in China.
Influence of the Lunar Phase of Tree Felling on Humidity, Weight Densities, and Shrinkage in Hardwoods (Quercus humilis)
Authors: Villasante Antonio , Vignote Santiago , Ferrer David
Published: October 2013

The influence of the lunar phase of tree felling on the properties of wood has been debated for centuries, but it is only recently that it has been the subject of rigorous study. These scientific studies have essentially focused on softwoods, leaving unanswered the question of whether hardwoods follow the same pattern.

This article presents the results of the analysis of the lunar influence of the felling date on the humidity, specific weights, and shrinkage of wood. The random sample analyzed consists of 60 oaks (Quercus humilis Mill.) felled during the four lunar phases (15 trees per phase) throughout one lunar period. No significant differences were detected in any of the cases.
Some of the Properties of Heat-Treated Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)
Authors: Korkut Suleyman , Karayilmazlar Selman , Hiziroglu Salim , Sanli Tolunay
Published: October 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of heat treatment on the physical and mechanical properties of sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Samples were exposed to three temperature levels of 120°C, 150°C, and 180°C for time periods ranging from 2 to 10 hours. Modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, compression strength parallel-to-grain, hardness, impact bending, tension strength, swelling in three sections, and surface roughness of the samples were evaluated. Based on the findings in this study, the results showed a significant difference between properties of control samples and heat-treated samples (P = 0.05). Mechanical properties of the samples were adversely influenced as a result of heat treatment; however, surface quality and dimensional stability of the samples improved with heat treatment. Changes in properties of the samples were more pronounced as temperature and exposure times were increased.
Kenaf Bast Fiber Bundle–Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites. III: Statistical Strength Characteristics and Cost-Performance Analyses
Authors: Du Yicheng , Zhang Jilei , Xue Yibin , Lacy Thomas E. , Toghiani Hossein , Horstemeyer Mark F. , Pittman Charles U.
Published: October 2013

The tensile, flexural, and impact strength distribution and the cost-effectiveness of kenaf bast fiber bundle (KBFB)–reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were studied. Probability models including normal, two-parameter Weibull, gamma, lognormal, exponential, Burr, Pareto, and inverse Gaussian models were fitted against measured composite strengths. Taking the 5th percentile values as the composite's strength design values, the two-parameter Weibull model provided the most conservative composite strength design values. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed these composites were more cost-effective than glass fiber–reinforced sheet molding compounds (SMCs) for carrying tensile and flexural loads when their fiber loadings reached 51.2 and 56.3 percent (wt/wt), respectively. The KBFB-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were less cost-effective than glass fiber–reinforced SMCs for carrying impact loads. This work suggests that natural fiber–reinforced composites have the potential to be viable replacement materials in applications where impact resistance is not critical.
Trends in the US Hardwood Lumber Distribution Industry: Changing Products, Customers, and Services
Authors: Buehlmann Urs , Espinoza Omar , Bumgardner Matthew , Smith Bob
Published: October 2013

Efficient and effective supply chains are the backbone of any industry, including the forest products industry. As the US secondary hardwood industry has undergone a profound transformation and large parts of the industry have moved offshore, the supply chain is adapting to these new realities. Remaining and new customers of US hardwood lumber distributors tend to be smaller and likely have a wide variety of unique needs and expectations. A survey conducted in the fall of 2008 of distributors of hardwood lumber assessed the sourcing needs and perceptions of the industry and describes the status of the industry as of 2007. The findings suggest that the US hardwood lumber industry is adapting to the new realities brought forth by the globalization of markets and slowing housing markets. Almost half of the respondents indicated that their average customer in 2007 was smaller than the average customer in 2003, and 75 percent of respondents indicated that the average order was smaller in 2007 versus 2003. To accommodate their customers, distributors added a plethora of new services, with provision of certified products being the fastest growing. Overall, the study depicts an ongoing transformation of the US hardwood lumber supply chain, where distributors are well positioned to meet the exacting specifications of numerous small and customized manufacturers.
Mapping the Distribution of Wood-Utilizing Industries in Arkansas Using Geographic Information Systems
Authors: Adewopo Julius B. , Felix-Locher Alexandra
Published: October 2013

Arkansas is endowed with vast forest resources, but the number of wood-utilizing industries is declining. A cartographic representation of the location of existing industries is needed to understand their spatial distribution trends and identify possible factors relating to their site preferences. We obtained coordinates of these industries from ZipList5 Geocode and overlaid them onto spatial data, including Land-Use/Land-Cover (LULC) raster data model, county- and city-limits vector data model, county-level population, and average house listing price in ArcMap. We used ArcGIS spatial analyst tools to reclassify and vectorize the LULC model based on timber supply potential and then categorized the subsectors of wood-utilizing industries based on their numeric and/or financial dominance. Spearman's nonparametric correlation showed that county-level counts of industries were not significantly related to population (r = 0.193, P = 0.097) and city limits (r = 0.062, P = 0.600) but were significantly related to timber supply area LULC type (r = 0.284, P = 0.014) and average house listing price (r = 0.419, P < 0.0001). This study provides spatially based knowledge about site-selection preferences for wood-utilizing industries, which is critical for potential investors, resource administrators, and wood-industry businesses in Arkansas.
Suitability of Some Fast-Growing Trees and Date Palm Fronds for Particleboard Production
Authors: Hegazy Said S. , Aref Ibrahim M.
Published: October 2013

Three fast-growing trees, namely Acacia saligna, Conocarpus erectus, and Melia azedarach, as well as date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) midribs, were evaluated for their suitability for particleboard production. Panels were pressed at two target density levels of 750 and 650 kg/m3 and a thickness of 13 mm using 10 percent urea-formaldehyde resin. Modulus of rupture (MOR) mean values for the manufactured boards ranged from 13.34 to 6.7 MPa for date palm boards pressed at high density (HD) and C. erectus boards pressed at low density (LD), respectively. Modulus of elasticity (MOE) mean values ranged from 2,674 to 1,149 MPa for M. azedarach boards at HD and A. saligna boards at LD, respectively. According to the American National Standards Institute, all boards pressed at HD passed the minimum requirements for both MOR and MOE, except for A. saligna boards. On the other hand, all boards pressed at LD did not pass the standard, except for M. azedarach boards. The internal bond mean values of all boards were higher than the standard requirements, but the boards did not satisfy the linear expansion requirements for general uses. Concerning thickness swelling, date palm boards compressed at LD were the only boards that passed the English National Standard requirements for both 2-hour and 24-hour immersions. In general, all the species under investigation can be used in the particleboard industry if they are pressed at a density level of 750 kg/m3, while their dimensional stability properties might be improved by additional treatments, such as coating surfaces with melamine-impregnated papers or laminates in order to achieve a more stable product.
Preliminary Study on Flakeboard Panels Made from Aspen Slash Wood
Authors: Yu Yan , Rudie Alan , Cai Zhiyong
Published: October 2013

The disposal of forest-thinning residue is one of the major problems for sustainable forest management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the technical possibility of utilizing aspen logging slash wood with a diameter ranging from 50 to 76 mm for flakeboard production. Influences of weight ratio between slash wood and commercial flakes on the selected mechanical and physical properties of panels were examined. The need of an extra debarking process for panel fabrication was also evaluated. The results indicated the modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bonding, linear expansion (LE), thickness swelling (TS), and water adsorption of flakeboard made from aspen slash wood flakes were all comparable to those properties of panels made from aspen commercial flakes. The flake weight ratio between slash wood and commercial flakes had little impact on panel MOE, MOR, and LE. The statistical analysis (analysis of variance, P < 0.05) showed that the TS of panels made from 100 percent slash wood (22.8%) was significantly lower than the TS of panels made from a mixture of slash wood and commercial flakes or from 100 percent commercial flakes. The results indicate abundant slash wood, which is normally characterized by inferior mechanical and physical properties, could be a valuable resource for commercially available structural panel products.
Evaluation of Forestry Residue-Source Oil-Tea Cake as an Extender for Phenol-Formaldehyde Plywood Adhesive
Authors: Fan Dong-bin , Qin Te-fu , Wang Chun-peng , Chu Fu-xiang
Published: October 2013

Forestry residue-source oil-tea cake (consisting of plant protein, tannin, carbohydrate compounds, and tea saponin) is a major by-product from the pressing process of Camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel) seeds. In this study, we evaluated oil-tea cake as a potential extender to replace the current industry extender, wheat flour, for applications with phenol-formaldehyde (PF) plywood adhesives. We evaluated mixing properties, curing characteristics, and adhesion performance of the adhesive containing oil-tea cake as compared with those of the standard wheat flour–based adhesive. The oil-tea cake–based adhesive showed excellent mixing properties and working life, and its viscosity met the recommended value for the sprayline coater. The adhesive containing oil-tea cake was comparable in wet shear strength and wood failure values of plywood to the wheat flour–based adhesive. Thermal analysis showed that adhesives containing oil-tea cake had significant curing reactions because of the relatively large curing enthalpy (DH) value of oil-tea cake. These results indicate that oil-tea cake is suitable as a low-cost and effective plywood adhesive extender. Therefore, using oil-tea cake is economically beneficial because it not only makes use of what would otherwise be forestry residue, but it is cheaper to use as a plywood adhesive than wheat flour.
Wear Characteristics of Multilayer-Coated Cutting Tools when Milling Particleboard
Authors: Darmawan Wayan , Usuki Hiroshi , Rahayu Istie S. , Gottlöber Christian , Marchal Rémy
Published: October 2013

This article presents the characteristics of delamination wear on the clearance face of newly coated K10 cutting tools when milling particleboard. The K10 cutting tools were multilayer coated with titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN)/titanium silicon nitride (TiSiN), TiAlN/titanium boron nitride (TiBN), and TiAlN/chromium aluminum nitride (CrAlN). Particleboard with a density of 0.61 g/cm3 was cut using the multilayer-coated tools and a monolayer-coated (TiAlN) tool. Cutting tests were performed at a high cutting speed of 41.8 m/s and a feed rate of 0.2 mm/rev to investigate the delamination wear on the clearance face of these coated tools. Experimental results showed that the newly multilayer-coated tools experienced a smaller amount of delamination wear than the monolayer-coated tool when milling the particleboard. The best multilayer coating was TiAlN/CrAlN; that tool only suffered a slight chipping on the cutting edge at a cutting length of 1 km. The high hardness, low coefficient of friction, high resistance to oxidation, and high resistance to delamination wear of the multilayer-coated TiAlN/CrAlN tool indicate a very promising applicability of this coating for high-speed cutting of abrasive wood-based materials.
Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted during the Kiln Drying of Southern Pine Utility Poles
Authors: Dahlen Joseph , Shmulsky Rubin , Jones David
Published: October 2013

Southern pine is the most common species used for utility poles in the United States. However, information regarding air emissions from pole drying is very limited. With respect to drying, poles have longer lengths, resulting in limited end-grain exposure, higher final moisture content, and lower ratios of surface area to volume, and typically southern pine poles have higher amounts of heartwood compared with southern pine lumber because of pole age. For this research, several green southern pine utility pole bolts were obtained and cut into matched kiln charges that contained sapwood only, mostly sapwood, mostly heartwood, and knotty material. Eight charges were dried at 230°F dry bulb with at least a 50°F wet bulb depression until the poles reached a moisture content of 30 percent at a depth 3 inches from the surface. Volatile organic emissions from the kiln charges were measured using federal guidelines. The mean emission values from the all sapwood, mostly sapwood, mostly heartwood, and knotty wood kiln charges were 3.59, 3.52, 2.64, and 3.65 pounds of volatile organic emissions per thousand board feet, respectively. The emissions of the sapwood, mostly sapwood, and knotty charges were similar to clear lumber emission values. The emissions from the knotty charges were less than emissions from knotty lumber. The results suggest that heartwood-rich utility poles release much less organic emissions than heartwood lumber, perhaps because of the band of sapwood that always surrounds the heartwood in poles as opposed to lumber where the heartwood is often exposed at the surface.
Effects of Extractives on the Physical Characteristics of Scots Pine Sawdust Fuel Pellets
Authors: Bergström Dan , Finell Michael , Gref Rolf
Published: October 2013

In order to evaluate the effect of extractives on particle bonding, pellets were produced from extracted and nonextracted Scots pine sawdust in a laboratory piston press pelletizer. In the experiment, the raw material and process parameters were fresh (nonextracted) and acetone-extracted sawdust, sawdust moisture content (6% and 12%), piston pressure (70 and 150 MPa), and press temperature (100°C and 180°C). The resulting pellets were evaluated and compared for density, compression strength, and moisture sorption. The relationship between factors and responses was evaluated by partial least squares regression. In the present study, it was found that pressure and temperature had a positive effect on both pellet density and compression strength. Extracted sawdust gave pellets with a higher density and compression strength than pellets made from nonextracted sawdust. Moisture sorption between the produced pellets showed no significant differences. Results of this study provide a plausible explanation for why pellets produced from stored sawdust with low amounts of extractives have better strength properties than pellets produced from fresh sawdust.
Effects of the Traditional Turkish Art of Marbling (Ebru) Techniques on the Adhesion, Hardness, and Gloss of Some Finishing Varnishes
Authors: Goktas Osman , Toker Hilmi
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ebru, a traditional Turkish art of marbling, on some physical properties of various varnishes. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), and medium-density fiberboard specimens were used as substrates. Each sample surface was first stained by ebru or a commercial wood stain (wood paint), dried, and then covered with one of a variety of varnishes. Nitrocellulose-based, alkyd-based synthetic, water-based, and polyurethane-based varnishes were applied as two consecutive topcoats. Adhesion, hardness, and gloss tests were performed. Results showed that, in general, there was not any statistically significant effect of ebru staining before coating with varnishes. In conclusion, the Turkish art of ebru can be utilized on wood and wood-based panels as an artistic and decorative staining technique.
Transitioning Ideation to Commercialization: A Comprehensive Product Development Strategy with an Application in the Wood Products Industry
Authors: Quesada-Pineda Henry , Kenealy David , Vlosky Richard
Published: October 2013

This article introduces a comprehensive product development strategy to transform ideas into commercial products. Although there is abundant literature on product development tools and innovation theory, the inconsistency of results in previous studies in innovation theory has not produced compatible theories that can be put into practice. To help overcome this problem, grounded theory was used to build a novel and holistic strategy that connects and relates current product development tools with marketing research, value chain, business process management, and innovation theory. The resulting strategy combines a series of product development tools that can help practitioners to easily identify customer requirements, to develop ideal solutions, and to deploy solutions. The proposed strategy was applied in the wood products industry with successful results. It is expected that this product development strategy will help researchers and practitioners better integrate theory and practice in innovation research.
Estimating Regional Softwood Lumber Supply in the United States Using Seemingly Unrelated Regression
Authors: Majumdar Suman , Zhang Daowei , Zhang Yaoqi
Published: October 2013

In this article, we present estimates of regional softwood lumber supply functions in the United States using annual time series data for 1959 to 2009. Seemingly unrelated regression is used in a profit maximization framework to model softwood lumber supply as a function of lumber and stumpage prices, lagged supply, wage rate, and interest rate for the eastern and western United States. The effects of listing the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) as a threatened species and the US–Canada softwood lumber trade dispute are controlled for in empirical estimation. Results show that regional lumber supply is quite inelastic to lumber price and that stumpage price and bank prime rate negatively influence regional lumber supply. Results also suggest that present market supplies of softwood lumber have potential expansionary influence on future supplies, that listing of the northern spotted owl in 1990 reduced the lumber supply in the western region during subsequent years, that the US–Canada softwood lumber trade dispute/agreements favored regional lumber production in the United States during the period from 1996 to 2005, and that supply has declined during the recent period of economic recession.
Recycling of Pentachlorophenol-Treated Southern Pine Utility Poles. Part I: Preservative Retention and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Piao Cheng , Monlezun Charles J. , Wang Jim J. , Groom Leslie H.
Published: October 2013

Reusing decommissioned wood utility poles will extend the service life of the treated wood and offer economic and ecological advantages. The aim of this study was to evaluate pentachlorophenol (penta) retention and distribution, together with physical and mechanical properties of penta-treated southern pine (Pinus spp.) utility poles for reuse and recycling. Fifteen penta-treated decommissioned southern pine utility poles and pole sections were collected and studied. As expected, residual penta retention decreased from outside to the pith and from the top to the bottom of the poles. Of the 15 poles tested, penta retention averages at the two outer test zones varied from 3.9 to 5.6 kg/m3, while the overall penta retention averages of these poles varied from 3.2 to 5.4 kg/m3. The modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) averages of the 15 poles and pole sections were 33.7 and 68.1 percent lower, respectively, than the published MOR and MOE values of virgin loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) wood. MOR and MOE varied in an M shape across the diameters of the poles due to surface aging. The shallow, aged surface layers, particularly of older poles, had low strength and relatively high penta retention, suggesting that surface layers should be removed from the recycled poles. However, most of the remaining pole portions had medium to high strength and were therefore reusable for other products.
Bending Properties of Medium-Density Fiberboard and Plywood Obtained by Compression Bending Test
Authors: Yoshihara Hiroshi
Published: October 2013

Compression bending testing, as described in this article, has been used successfully on various advanced composite materials, such as carbon-fiber reinforced plastics, to compute bending properties. This method might be applicable for several wood-based panels, such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood, because they are quite thin, and thus the elastica phenomena can be easily induced. In this study, the bending properties of MDF and Lauan five-ply wood were determined by performing a compression bending test. The validity of the compression bending testing was then examined by comparing these results with the results from flexural vibration tests and three-point bending tests. The compression bending test proved effective for measuring the flexural Young's modulus when the length/thickness ratio was larger than 33 because the test method minimizes deflection caused by shearing force. Nevertheless, it was even less effective when the length/thickness ratio was smaller than 33. It was expected that the test would be more effective than the three-point bending test for measuring proportional limit stress and bending strength because the test specimen is independent of the stress concentration around the loading nose; however, this proved not to be the case for the materials investigated in this study. Thus, further research is still needed to devise ways to more effectively measure the bending properties of the materials tested.
Experimental Measurements of Thermal Conductivity of Wood Species in China: Effects of Density, Temperature, and Moisture Content
Authors: Yu Zi-Tao , Xu Xu , Fan Li-Wu , Hu Ya-Cai , Cen Ke-Fa
Published: October 2013

Experimental measurements of thermal conductivity of wood were performed using the heat flow meter and transient plane source technique. The specimens were prepared from five species of both softwoods and hardwoods widely available and used in China, with a wide range of density and moisture content. The transverse thermal conductivity of ovendry specimens is presented as a function of density and temperature up to 90°C and is compared with that along the grain direction for two select species. The influence of moisture content up to 23 percent, which is below the typical fiber saturation point of wood, on the transverse thermal conductivity is presented as well. It is shown that the transverse thermal conductivity of wood increases with density, temperature, and moisture content. Linear correlating equations are proposed in terms of these factors.
Production and Characterization of Palm Fruit Shell Bio-Oil for Wood Preservation
Authors: Sunarta Sigit , Darmadji Purnama , Uehara Tohru , Katoh Sadanobu
Published: October 2013

Pyrolytic liquid (bio-oil), produced by pyrolyzing the shell of the palm fruit, was characterized, and its preservative properties were examined using drywood termites (Cryptotermes spp.) and blue stain fungi (Ceratocystis spp.). The yield from shell bio-oil production ranged from 35 to 37 percent relative to the mass of the raw material. The shell bio-oil had the following properties: specific gravity (ranging from 1.0365 to 1.0431), refractive index (ranging from 1.3594 to 1.3613), wood absorption level (ranging from 0.0088 to 0.0625 g/cm3), and retention (ranging from 0.0022 to 0.0141g/cm3). The shell bio-oil also had termicidal activity as shown by drywood termite mortalities: 25 percent between days 3 and 6, 50 percent between days 3 and 20, and 100 percent between days 5 and 49 in termite resilience tests. Using a fluorescence microscope, we demonstrated that the shell bio-oil–treated wood completely inhibited the growth of blue stain fungi on both pine (Pinus merkusii) and Sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria) wood.