Treesearch

The technique of selective 13C-enrichment of specific carbons in lignin combined with 13C-NMR differential spectrometry between spectra of 13C-enriched and unenriched lignins (Ä13C-NMR) provides definitive information on the structure of the lignin macromolecule. Improvements were made on, (1) specific 13C-enrichment of almost all carbons involved in inter-unit bonds and functional groups in lignin, (2) estimation of the frequencies of bonds and functional groups using Ä13CNMR under quantitative conditions, and (3) detection of specifically 13C-labeled carbons by 2D- ifference spectra. A...

Kinetic and reaction mechanism of non-phenolic lignin model compounds under anaerobic polyoxometalate (POM), Na5(+1.9)[SiV1(-0.1)MoW10(+0.1) 40], bleaching conditions were examined. Analyses using a syringyl type model, 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethanol (1), a guaiacyl type, 1-(3,4- imethoxyphenyl)ethanol (2), and 1- (4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanol (3) suggest the significance of steric factor in POM oxidation of these compounds. A kinetic isotope effect was observed in isotope labeling experiments. It is suggested that the rate-determining step of POM oxidation of non-phenolic...

Data is presented on chemical and physical changes observed on a series of 15 specially made writing papers as part of the development of the new ASTM standard D6789-02. Papers were exposed to north window, fluorescent, and halogen illumination for several years. Furnish covered the span from stone groundwood to textile cotton, pH 5 to 8.1, with and without alkaline reserve. Degree of polymerization was dramatically reduced, even for the most robust papers under the mildest illumination. All mechanical properties were degraded, lignin aromatic structures were destroyed, and C=O bonds...

Between 1985-1995 a substantial number of multifamily housing units in the Eastern and Southern U.S. experienced problems with thermally degraded fire-retardant-treated (FRT) plywood roof sheathing. A series of studies conducted at the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), examined the materials, chemical mechanisms, and process implications and has developed both practical and theoretical solutions for controlling strength effects during treatment and processing and for minimizing strength loss in-service. In addition to a series of technical publications, FPL research...

In many forests across the United States, the high forest fuel loadings are contributing to our recent forest fire problems. Many fire-prone timber stands are generally far from traditional timber markets or the timber is not economically valuable enough to cover the costs of removal. To help address this problem, the USDA Forest Products Laboratory has developed a process to produce three-dimensional structural fiberboard products that can utilize the wide range of lignocellulosic fibers contained in the forest undergrowth, underutilized timber, and agro-biomass. In this way, removing...

The effect of temperature on properties can be separated into reversible and permanent effects. The National Design Specification (NDS) provides factors (Ct) for reducing properties for reversible effects but provides little guidance on permanent effects. The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of prolonged heating (permanent effect) on the flexural properties of solid-sawn and composite lumber products exposed at 66°C and 75% relative humidity (RH) and at 82°C and 30% RH. A second objective is to determine how to estimate total effects. Solid-sawn lumber, laminated...

Early detection of wood decay is critical because decay fungi can cause rapid structural failure. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity of different methods purported to detect brown-rot decay in the early stages of development. The immunodiagnostic wood decay (IWD)test, soil block test/cake pan test, mechanical property tests, and chemical analysis were evaluated in southern yellow pine blocks and stakes exposed to Postia placenta for 5 weeks. The IWD test was 100 percent positive in blocks after 5 days of incubation; similarly, IWD was 100 percent positive in stakes...

Medium density fiberboard (MDF) production worldwide is increasing due to the development of new manufacturing technologies. As a result, MDF products are increasingly utilized in traditional wood applications that require fungal and insect resistance. This study evaluated the ability of white and brown rot fungi and termites to decompose MDF consisting of different wood species by measuring weight loss. Furnish in the boards was prepared from heart and sapwood portions of pine (Pinus nigra Arnold var. pallasiana), beech (Fugus orientalis Lipsky), and European oak (Quercus robur L.)...

The proposed method of modelling orthotropic solids that have a nonlinear constitutive material relationship affords several advantages. The first advantage is the application of a simple bilinear stress-strain curve to represent the material response on two orthogonal axes as well as in shear, even for markedly nonlinear materials. The second advantage is that this method correlates yield strengths in the orthogonal directions, which is necessitated by some finite-element programs. Herein, we provide an algorithm for fitting bilinear stress versus strain curves to data, such that the...

Phellinus coronadensis is characterized and described morphologically as a new species from southern Arizona, USA. This fungus was previously reported as P. torulosus based on morphological similarities of the basidiomes and type of wood decay. However, P. coronadensis is restricted to two mountain ranges in southern Arizona and found almost exclusively on living southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis). Phellinus torulosus is found primarily in Europe and parts of Asia and is primarily associated with hardwood hosts. Based on sequence analysis of small subunit mitochondria1 ribosomal...