Investigating water transport in MDF and OSB using a gantry-based X-ray CT scanning system

Published Date
Original

First Online: 

07 September 2016

DOI: 10.1007/s00226-016-0855-8

Cite this article as: 

Li, W., Van den Bulcke, J., De Schryver, T. et al. Wood Sci Technol (2016). doi:10.1007/s00226-016-0855-8

Author 

Wanzhao Li, 

Jan Van den Bulcke, 

Thomas De Schryver, 

Joris Van Acker

Abstract

Both medium density fiberboard (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) are important engineered wood products. Water uptake can decrease their physical and mechanical properties as well as induce fungal decay. It is therefore essential to understand the water transport behavior in these products in detail. In this research, a state-of-the-art gantry-based X-ray CT scanner was used to investigate the water transport and the internal microstructure of the specimens from different types of MDF and OSB during water uptake. The results show that water, obviously, is mainly absorbed from the sides of all specimens during immersion testing. Water can reach the interior of the small specimens within 1 h through large fibers and strands. Although water movement through voids is slow, high water content can be reached when these voids are filled; for example, moisture content of more than 100 % is found in MDF. A compact structure can effectively decrease water accumulation in voids. Furthermore, the presence of a water-resistant adhesive, a water-repellent additive and acetylated fibers clearly influences water transport behavior in wood fibers and voids, increasing water resistance and improve structural stability of MDF. Moisture dynamics of OSB are different, among others influenced by orientation of the strands: grain direction perpendicular to the water uptake direction can protect OSB from water penetration. Furthermore, strands covered with resin have a good water resistance.

References

1. Boone MA, De Kock T, Bultreys T, De Schutter G, Vontobel P, Van Hoorebeke L, Cnudde V (2014) 3D mapping of water in oolithic limestone at atmospheric and vacuum saturation using X-ray micro-CT differential imaging. Mater Charact 97:150–160CrossRef
2. Cai JC, Perfect E, Cheng CL, Hu XY (2014) Generalized modeling of spontaneous imbibition based on Hagen-Poiseuille flow in tortuous capillaries with variably shaped apertures. Langmuir 30:5142–5151CrossRefPubMed
3. CEN (1993) Particleboards and fibreboards—Determination of swelling in thickness after immersion in water. European Committee for standardisation, Brussels, Belgium
4. Chen SG, Liu XH, Fang LM, Wellwood R (2010) Digital X-ray analysis of density distribution characteristics of wood-based panels. Wood Sci Technol 44:85–93CrossRef
5. De Ridder M, Van den Bulcke J, Vansteenkiste D, Van Loo D, Dierick M, Masschaele B, De Witte Y, Mannes D, Lehmann E, Beeckman H, Van Hoorebeke L, Van Acker J (2011) High-resolution proxies for wood density variations in Terminalia superba. Ann Bot 107:293–302CrossRefPubMed
6. Del Menezzi CHS, Tomaselli I (2006) Contact thermal post-treatment of oriented strandboard to improve dimensional stability: a preliminary study. Holz Roh Werkst 64:212–217CrossRef
7. Evans PD, Morrison O, Senden TJ, Vollmer S, Roberts RJ, Limaye A, Arns CH, Averdunk H, Lowe A, Knackstedt MA (2010) Visualization and numerical analysis of adhesive distribution in particleboard using X-ray micro-computed tomography. Int J Adhes Adhes 30:754–762CrossRef
8. Ganev S, Cloutier A, Gendron G, Beauregard R (2005a) Finite element modeling of the hygroscopic warping of medium density fiberboard. Wood Fiber Sci 37:337–354
9. Ganev S, Gendron G, Cloutier A, Beauregard R (2005b) Mechanical properties of MDF as a function of density and moisture content. Wood Fiber Sci 37:314–326
10. Joffre T, Wernersson ELG, Miettinen A, Hendriks CLL, Gamstedt EK (2013) Swelling of cellulose fibres in composite materials: constraint effects of the surrounding matrix. Compos Sci Technol 74:52–59CrossRef
11. Johansson J, Kifetew G (2010) CT-scanning and modelling of the capillary water uptake in aspen, oak and pine. Eur J Wood Prod 68:77–85CrossRef
12. Kuroda K, Kagawa A, Tonosaki M (2013) Radiocesium concentrations in the bark, sapwood and heartwood of three tree species collected at Fukushima forests half a year after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident. J Environ Radioact 122:37–42CrossRefPubMed
13. Li X, Li YH, Zhong ZK, Wang DH, Ratto JA, Sheng KC, Sun XS (2009) Mechanical and water soaking properties of medium density fiberboard with wood fiber and soybean protein adhesive. Bioresour Technol 100:3556–3562CrossRefPubMed
14. Li WZ, Van den Bulcke J, De Windt I, Van Loo D, Dierick M, Brabant L, Van Acker J (2013) Combining electrical resistance and 3-D X-ray computed tomography for moisture distribution measurements in wood products exposed in dynamic moisture conditions. Build Environ 67:250–259CrossRef
15. Li WZ, Van den Bulcke J, Mannes D, Lehmann E, De Windt I, Dierick M, Van Acker J (2014) Impact of internal structure on water-resistance of plywood studied using neutron radiography and X-ray tomography. Constr Build Mater 73:171–179CrossRef
16. Manuel D, Denis V, Bert M, Jan V, Joris V, Veerle C, Luc V (2014) Recent micro-CT scanner developments at UGCT. Nucl Instrum Methods in Phys Res B Beam Interact Mater At 324:35–40CrossRef
17. Masschaele B, Dierick M, Van Loo D, Boone MN, Brabant L, Pauwels E, Cnudde V, Van Hoorebeke L (2013) Hector: a 240kv micro-ct setup optimized for research. In: 11th International conference on X-Ray microscopy, vol 463. Shanghai
18. Migneault S, Koubaa A, Erchiqui F, Chaala A, Englund K, Krause C, Wolcott M (2008) Effect of fiber length on processing and properties of extruded wood-fiber/HDPE composites. J Appl Polym Sci 110:1085–1092CrossRef
19. Ozsahin S (2012) The use of an artificial neural network for modeling the moisture absorption and thickness swelling of oriented strand board. Bioresources 7:1053–1067
20. Pries M, Wagner R, Kaesler KH, Militz H, Mai C (2013) Acetylation of wood in combination with polysiloxanes to improve water-related and mechanical properties of wood. Wood Sci Technol 47:685–699CrossRef
21. Suttie E, Alexander J, Maes M (2015) Durable fibre for durable MDF—testing Tricoya. In: The international research group on wood protection. Viña del Mar IRG/WP/40704
22. Tsoumis G (1991) Science and technology of wood: structure, properties, utilization. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York
23. Van den Bulcke J, Boone M, Van Acker J, Stevens M, Van Hoorebeke L (2009) X-ray tomography as a tool for detailed anatomical analysis. Ann For Sci 66(5):1CrossRef
24. Vlassenbroeck J, Dierick M, Masschaele B, Cnudde V, Hoorebeke L, Jacobs P (2007) Software tools for quantification of X-ray microtomography. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A Accel Spectrom Detect Assoc Equip 580:442–445CrossRef
25. Walker JCF (1993) Primary wood processing: principles and practice. Chapman and Hall, New YorkCrossRef
26. Wang SQ, Winistorfer PM (2000) The effect of species and species distribution on the layer characteristics of OSB. For Prod J 50:37–44
27. Wang S, Winistorfer PM, Young TM, Helton C (2001) Step-closing pressing of medium density fiberboard; Part 1. Influences on the vertical density profile. Holz Roh Werkst 59:19–26CrossRef
28. Winistorfer PM, Xu W (1996) Layer water absorption of medium density fiberboard and oriented strandboard. For Prod J 46:69–72
29. Ye XP, Julson J, Kuo ML, Womac A, Myers D (2007) Properties of medium density fiberboards made from renewable biomass. Bioresour Technol 98:1077–1084CrossRefPubMed
30. Zhang M, Wong ED, Kawai S, Kwon JH (1998) Manufacture and properties of high-performance oriented strand board composite using thin strands. J Wood Sci 44:191–197CrossRef

For further details log on website :
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00226-016-0855-8