Development of wood retification process at the industrial stage

IRG/WP 98-50101-16

P Gohar, R Guyonnet

Wood is a natural composite material which exhibits outstanding properties from the technical as well as from the ecological point of view. However, it is an anisotropic, hygroscopic material sensitive to biological attacks. We have to stabilise and preserve it if we want to ensure its market shares faced with competing synthetic material, whilst taking the new environmental rules into account. The RETIFICATION® process, which is entering the industrial stage, respects both of these preoccupations. It is a physical treatment of wood without the use of external chemicals. It consists of a mild pyrolysis of wood under controlled atmosphere. Transformation derives from the thermal flow which creates physico-chemical changees inside wood and causes an important reduction of hygroscopy, dimension instability and biodegradability of wood. The experimental approach allowed us to identify the influence of the parameters determining the quality of the final product. The modelling and the simulation allow to understand the physical phenomena at stake and to improve the management of the process. At the industrial stage, a global approach must be performed. It includes a raw material control, a valorisation of by-products, ecotoxicology and environment problems, standardisation and safety of the process in connection with a strategy based on the creation of new products corresponding to an evolution of the expectations of the market.


Keywords: RETIFICATION; THERMAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION; DIMENSION STABILITY

Conference: 98-02-02/03 Cannes-Mandelieu, France


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