Mechanism of Transport Through Wood Cell Wall Polymers

Abstract

The movement of chemicals through wood is necessary for decay and fastener corrosion to occur in forest products. However, the mechanism responsible for the onset of fastener corrosion and decay in wood is not known. The onset occurs before the formation of free water in wood cavities and aqueous chemical transport would be possible. Here, we propose that the onset mechanism is the hemicelluloses going through a moisture induced glass transition. As nm-scale regions of mechanically softened hemicelluloses in cell walls percolate, pathways for chemical transport are created. The ability of chemicals to move in cell walls enables fastener corrosion and decay to occur. This mechanism suggests that wood treatments preventing the glass transition of hemicelluloses will inhibit fastener corrosion and wood decay. The identification of this mechanism should accelerate the development of wood treatments to improve forest products durability.

Citation

Jakes, Joseph E.; Plaza, Nayomi; Stone, Donald S.; Hunt, Christopher G.; Glass, Samuel V.; Zelinka, Samuel L. 2013. Mechanism of Transport Through Wood Cell Wall Polymers. JOURNAL OF FOREST PRODUCTS & INDUSTRIES, Volume 2, Number 6, 2013; pp. 10-13.