Laminating wood fiber mats into a densified material with high performance

Jinguang Wei; Fei Rao; Yahui Zhang; Wenji Yu; Chung Hse; Todd Shupe

doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2019.06.097

Treesearch

Laminating wood fiber mats into a densified material with high performance

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Jinguang Wei, Fei Rao, Yahui Zhang, Wenji Yu, Chung Hse, Todd Shupe

Year:

2019

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2019.06.097

Source:

Materials Letters

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Abstract

To develop high-performance wood materials, a novel preparation strategy is presented in this study. Wood fiber mats impregnated with phenolic resin, were laminated into a densified material. Wood lumens collapsed layer by layer during densification, leading to a compact multi-layered structure. The densified material had excellent mechanical properties and favorable water resistance. The flexural, compressive, and short-beam shearing strength were approximately 230%, 400%, and 260% higher than that of natural wood, respectively. The water absorption rate and thickness swelling rate in boiled water were 19% and 5.7%, respectively. Surface water repellency was also enhanced due to reduction of hydrophilic groups on the surface. Such high performance makes the material a promising candidate for advanced engineering structures and applications.

Keywords

Composite materials, Wood fiber mats, Microstructure, Mechanical properties, Water resistance

Citation

Wei, Jinguang; Rao, Fei; Zhang, Yahui; Yu, Wenji; Hse, Chung; Shupe, Todd. 2019. Laminating wood fiber mats into a densified material with high performance. Materials Letters. 253: 358-361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2019.06.097.