Treesearch

Interest in using ground penetrating radar (GPR) as an inspection tool for wood and wooden structures has increased over the past two decades. GPR provides rapid scanning tool which can provide continuous subsurface information about the structure without the need for direct contact. It is accepted within the steel and concrete industries as a reliable inspection tool. By adapting the GPR for use on wood and wooden structures, the need for an inspector to learn an entirely unique technology is eliminated. Ideally, those familiar with GPR would only need minor instruction on how GPR can be...

The development of enzymatic browning constitutes one of the key issues in the preservation of highly perishable fresh-cut and oxygen-sensitive fruits such as avocados. This study explored the use of a packaging solution based on PLA/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films produced using a solvent-free cast extrusion process with strong oxygen and UV barrier properties to reduce browning in cut avocados and to prolong shelf life. Specifically, the effects of packaging material types (neat PLA vs PLA/CNC nanocomposite) and storage conditions (temperature and time) on discoloration (browning),...

Univariate discrete Laplace models are described and investigated. A more general mixture model is represented.Bivariate extensions of these models are discussed in some detail, with particular emphasis on associatedparameter estimation strategies. Multivariate versions of the models are briefly introduced.

Misfiring and hang-firing have been long-term, sporadic problems with 7.62-mm ammunition. These types of problems can cause injury to the shooter or others in the vicinity. This issue is believed to be related to inconsistency of the primer binder gum arabic (GA). A multi-organization project involving USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, was put together to work on solving this issue. The project was divided into two phases. Phase I was to understand the properties of GA in its application of holding together the explosives in small-caliber gun primers. Understanding the...

Mycelium-bonded bio-composites are promising new materials for replacing non-sustainable products. In such composite systems, fungal mycelia work as an adhesive, bonding together lignocellulosic substrate particles. In this work, we focus on the two groups of mycelium-bonded bio-composites: as-grown foams and hot-pressed (densified) panels. We used Trametes versicolor mycelium and yellow birch wood particles as a substrate and incubated the mixture for up to 30 days. We investigated the relationship between mycelium growth and essential end-use properties. We revealed that in as-grown...

The ability of soil insecticidal drenches or spray-on insecticide/fungicide treatments to protect mass timber elements was assessed using two modified AWPA ground proximity tests established in 2017 and 2019. The 2017 test evaluated 3-ply Douglas-fir cross-laminated timber using a modified AWPA Standard E26 while the 2019 test used a modified AWPA E21 protocol to evaluate 3-ply Douglas-fir or southern pine cross-laminated timber as well as Douglas-fir mass plywood panels. Both tests were installed at the Harrison Experimental Forest (Saucier, Mississippi) and will be assessed for five...

Large amounts of urban wood resources are generated through tree removals in urban areas. Therefore, there is a growing interest to improve the environmental performance of the urban wood supply chain by quantifying the environmental impacts of creating high-value products from urban tree removals to enhance its utilization. By surveying existing urban wood utilization operations for primary data in two major cities: Baltimore, Maryland, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a new life cycle inventory (LCI) dataset per m3 of dry urban hardwood lumber and live edge slabs was created. Incorporating the...

Some organosilicon compounds, including alkoxysilanes and siloxanes, proved effective in stabilizing the dimensions of waterlogged archaeological wood during drying, which is essential in the conservation process of ancient artifacts. However, it was diffcult to determine a strong correlation between the wood stabilizing effect and the properties of organosilicon compounds, such as molecular weight and size, weight percent gain, and the presence of other potentially reactive groups. Therefore, to better understand the mechanism behind the stabilization effectiveness, the reactivity of...

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) show promise for enhancing properties of waterborne latexes and coatings. Miniemulsion polymerization is a promising route to obtaining well-controlled latex distributions sufficient to encapsulate CNCs in the monomer phase. Here, we demonstrate the first miniemulsion polymerization resulting in encapsulation of CNCs that incorporates costabilizer, water soluble initiator, and comonomer mixtures, aspects that are important for practical implementation. CNCs were added to the monomer phase as either unmodified (umCNC) or one of two functionalized forms:...

Reactive chemical modifications have been shown to impart decay resistance to wood. These modifications change hydroxyl availability, water uptake, surface energy, and the nanostructure of wood. Because fungal action occurs on the micro and nano scale, further investigation into the nanostructure may lead to better strategies to prevent fungal decay. The aim of this article is to introduce our findings using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to probe the effects of chemical modifications on the nanostructure of wood fibers. Southern pine wood fiber samples were chemically modified to...