Effects of nano-SiO2/polyethylene glycol on the dimensional stability modified ACQ treated southern pine

Southern yellow pine (Pinus sp.) wood cubes were vacuum-pressure treated with nano-SiO2 solution and different concentrations of ACQ/polyethylene glycol (0.5%, 2.5% and 5.0%) modified solutions. The effects of polyethylene glycol concentrations and nano-SiO2 addition on the water absorption, air drying shrinkage and moisture swelling stability of treated wood were investigated. The results showed that during the whole process of water absorption and air drying shrinkage, the better stability of nano-SiO2 modified ACQ treated wood could only be obtained with the ratio of 2.5% polyethylene glycol addition. However, nano-SiO2 and polyethylene glycol modification could take little effect on the moisture and water swelling resistance of treated wood with different treatments.

Effect of different pre-treatments on the permeability of glue-laminated bamboo

In this study, hydrothermal treatments (duration: 2 h, 5 h, 8 h; temperature: 60°C, 80°C, 100°C), ultrasonic treatments (duration: 60 min, 90 min, 120 min; temperature: 40°C, 50°C, 60°C; ultrasonic power: 400 W, 600 W, 800 W) and freeze-drying treatments (vacuum degree: 0.05 mbar, 0.1 mbar, 0.5 mbar, 1.0 mbar, 1.7 mbar) were performed respectively to improve the permeability of glue-laminated bamboo. The effects of different pre-treatments on the permeability were compared according to the water absorption test and the mercury intrusion porosimetry test. The microstructure change of the samples was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that freeze-drying treatment was an effective way to increase the permeability of the samples, in which the water absorption rate can be increased by 47%, and the porosity can be increased by 10% at 0.5 mbar vacuum. From SEM analysis, some small holes appeared in the cell wall of the freeze-dried samples, because he free water inside the samples was changed into ice, and the volume became larger, and the pore diameter of the bamboo was enlarged.