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The examination of preservative-treated radiata pine using electron spin resonance spectroscopy
1987 - IRG/WP 3423
Electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) may be used to characterise the molecular environment of chemical species containing unpaired electrons. These species include free radicals, bi-radicals, point defects in solids, localised crystal imperfections and many transition metal ions. ESR has previously been applied to the examination of wood weathering or wood pyrolysis and now FRI and Massey Un...
D V Plackett, E W Ainscough, A M Brodie


Protection of cellulose string with biocide/water repellent mixtures
1997 - IRG/WP 97-30148
Protecting cellulosic materials in soil contact poses a formidable challenge. Many soil inhabiting bacteria and fungi that cannot degrade wood can nevertheless rapidly depolymerize cellulose once its protective lignin matrix is removed. As a result, cellulose based materials are rarely used in direct contact with soil. One exception, however, is the use of cellulose string to support climbing vine...
A B Chang, J J Morrell


Defining fungal decay types - A proposal for discussion
1985 - IRG/WP 1264
The present definitions of the fungal decay types, white rot, brown rot, and soft rot are somewhat vague. The definitions are based on a mixture of criteria involving morphological and chemical aspects of decay as well as taxonomic affiliation of the responsible fungal species. The present vague definitions have led some fungi being erroneously places in a wrong decay type. Furthermore, some fungi...
T Nilsson


The action of siderophores isolated from Gloeophyllum trabeum on the structure and crystallinity of cellulose compounds
1991 - IRG/WP 1479
Low molecular weight, high affinity iron-binding compounds (siderophores) were isolated from the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum. The compounds were shown to be inducible by iron starvation and could be purified by ultra-filtration, ethyl acetate extraction, column chromatography and preparative HPLC. The isolated compounds were shown by analytical and immunological techniques to be produced...
J Jellison, V Chandhoke, B Goodell, F Fekete, N Hayashi, M Ishihara, K Yamamoto


Gelatin encapsulated fumigants for wood fumigations: Current research status
1985 - IRG/WP 3336
The fumigants chloropicrin (trichloronitromethane) and methylisothiocyanate (MIT) were encapsulated in gelatin as an alternative to liquid fumigant treatments for control of decay fungi in wooden utility poles. Gelatin-encapsulated MIT was stored for over 2 years under dry conditions without significant fumigant leakage. Gelatin encapsulated MIT and chloropicrin were released from capsules when pl...
A R Zahora, M E Corden, J J Morrell


Factors affecting the resistance of fibre building boards to fungal attack
1975 - IRG/WP 252
Fungal decay is initiated at lower moisture contents in standard and tempered hardboards (18%) than in pine sapwood (26%). In contrast, in a saturated atmosphere, the equilibrium moisture contents of standard hardboard (14%) and of tempered hardboard (12.5%) are much lower than the moisture content permitting decay initiation whilst the equilibrium moisture content of pine sapwood (25.1%) approach...
C Grant, J G Savory


The resistance of wood coated with different water-borne paints against colonisation by decay fungi
1996 - IRG/WP 96-10165
The susceptibility of wood painted with model paints of known composition to decay fungi was tested without previous weathering. Included in the study were five alkyd emulsion paints and five acrylic paints; one linseed oil paint and two solvent-borne alkyd paints. It was found that several components influenced the susceptibility of these paints. The results of the present study indicate that the...
J Bjurman


The role of oxalic acid in short fiber formation by the brown-rot fungus Postia placenta
1993 - IRG/WP 93-10028
The mechanism by which brown-rot fungi depolymerize wood and cellulose remains a perplexing problem. Current evidence favors oxidation by low-molecular weight, non-enzymatic fungal metabolites. During attack of cotton cellulose by Postia placenta MAD-698, the degree of polymerization (DP) decreases to limit of degree of polymerization (LODP) over a period of 5-6 weeks with relatively low weight lo...
F Green III, J M Hackney, C A Clausen, M J Larsen, T L Highley


Moisture correction for ultrasonic MOE measurements above fibre saturation point in Scots pine sapwood
2006 - IRG/WP 06-20333
There is a high correlation between methods for dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn) and static modulus of elasticity (MOEstat). MOEdyn methods have been found sensitive to detect early stages of decay and may be seen as an option for non-destructive wood durability testing. As the MOEstat measurements do not change after reaching the fibre saturation point, the uncorrected MOEdyn data from ultr...
E Larnøy, G Alfredsen, H Militz


The use of X-ray diffraction for analyzing biomodification of crystalline cellulose by wood decay fungi
2007 - IRG/WP 07-10622
X-ray diffraction (XRD) is based on the creation of an interference pattern by x-rays when they encounter a regularly spaced matrix. In wood, this process has been used to determine, among other things, the average width of the cellulose microcrystals, the percent of crystalline cellulose within the wood, and can be used to examine the changes in these parameters during degradation. Enhanced under...
C Howell, A C Steenkjær Hastrup, J Jellison


COST Action E37. Sustainability Through New Technologies For Enhanced Wood Durability -
2008 - IRG/WP 08-40417
The main overall objective of the Action was to concentrate on the contribution of wood durability to sustainability through the development of systems for quality assurance and performance classification of modified wood and wood products as alternatives to wood treated with traditional preservatives. By this means it seeked to improve and consequently to increase the cost-effective use of compon...
R-D Peek, J Van Acker


Wood plastic composites from modified wood. Part 3. Durability of WPCs with bioderived matrix
2008 - IRG/WP 08-40423
The decay resistance of fully bio-derived wood plastic composites, WPCs, was tested in both laboratory and field tests. The laboratory tests were performed according to modified versions of AWPA E10 (soil-block test) and ENV 807 (tests in three un-sterile soils) and the field tests according to EN 252 (stakes in ground) and EN 275 (resistance to marine borers). The WPC materials for laboratory tes...
M Westin, P Larsson Brelid, B K Segerholm, M Van den Oever


SEM-EDXA of CCA-treated Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)
2009 - IRG/WP 09-20399
The microdistribution of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative in rubberwood was studied using scanning electron microscope in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (SEM-EDXA). Bulk X-ray analysis showed that there was a high accumulation of chromium, copper, and arsenic in the vessels and lower concentration of the three preservative elements in fibres. Chromium appeared to rec...
I Jusoh, D P Kamdem


Fungal Attack on Lignin and Cellulose: Elucidation of Brown- and White-Rot Mechanisms Comparing Biomimetic and In-Vivo Degradation Patterns
2010 - IRG/WP 10-10714
This paper examines research and hypotheses that have been developed over several years on wood degradation mechanisms. This information is combined with new data and analyses to explain why wood decay patterns caused by brown-rot fungi and specific types of white-rot fungi are different. New data, including work with both biomimetic studies on low molecular weight compounds, degradative enzymes, ...
V Arantes, B Goodell, A M F Milagres, Yuhui Qian, T Filley, J Jellison, S Kelley


Chemical mediated depolymerization of cotton cellulose for the understanding of non-enzymatic fungal decay
2010 - IRG/WP 10-10731
Small, low molecular weight non-enzymatic compounds have been linked to the early stages of brown rot decay as the enzymes involved with holocellulose degradation are found to be too large to penetrate the S3 layer of intact wood cells. The most pronounced of these which were analyzed in this study are hydrogen peroxide, iron, and oxalic. The compounds related to the Fenton reaction: the combinati...
A C Steenkjær Hastrup, B Jensen, F Green III


Preliminary laboratory bioassay to evaluate engineered Fibre-boards against subterranean termites C. acinaciformis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
2012 - IRG/WP 12-10768
In Australia, laboratory bioassays with subterranean termites typically contain groups of workers and soldiers in a substrate of moist mound material. This termite substrate may affect termite consumption, and the test materials create a favorable termite condition for the test. The main purpose of this test is to examine the effect of a melamine formaldehyde treatment of wood panels to evaluate t...
B M Ahmed (Shiday), H Militz, B Ozarska, I Ali, L Kloeser


Micromorphological and chemical characteristics of waterlogged archaeological bamboos excavated from the Yellow Sea
2012 - IRG/WP 12-10785
Bamboos have widely used as documentation material in Far Eastern countries such China, Korea and Japan. In particular, bamboo slips as documentation material were extensively used even after the wide spread of paper in those countries. A large number of bamboo slips have been excavated from the shipwreck since 2009 in Korea. Understanding the cause of deterioration of ancient bamboos is crucial f...
Mi Young Cha, Yoon Soo Kim


Biological durability of natural fibre reinforced composites
2014 - IRG/WP 14-40681
Composite materials reinforced with wood or non-wood natural fibres have the potential to be a lighter and lower-cost alternative construction material. Until better availability and properties and a lower cost price of degradable polymers makes their use more prevalent, the application of natural fibre reinforcements in synthetic polymers is an intermediate step towards products that are complete...
N Defoirdt, I De Windt, J Van den Bulcke, J Van Acker


What makes cellulose auxetic?
2016 - IRG/WP 16-40767
The 1D bundles of cellulose microfibrils (lignified flax fibre) and 2D networks of cellulose mi-crofibrils form tunicate, bacterial and microfibrillated celluloses were strained in tension, and their molecular deformation followed by Raman spectroscopy in order to fully understand the origins and magnitudes of in-plane auxetics for the information of innovation. Cellulose is found to exhibit three...
A Asamoah, S Eichhorn, K Evans


Moisture behaviour and biological durability of high performance flax fibre reinforced composites
2017 - IRG/WP 17-40803
For natural fibre composites in structural and load bearing applications long reinforcing fibres are required. Therefore, much research is performed on flax fibre reinforced composites to optimize them for high performance use. In most cases such research focuses on the mechanical properties, yet the assessment of moisture behaviour, dimensional stability and biological durability is an important ...
N Defoirdt, J Van den Bulcke, F Bensadoun, J Ivens, I Verpoest, J Van Acker


Reactivity of alkoxysilanes with cellulose and lignin in presence of catalysts
2018 - IRG/WP 18-40831
The origin of research was another step in development of a new conservation method for wood cultural heritage. Wood silanisation seemed to be an alternative method to waterlogged wood PEG treatment. The superior aim from the practical point of view was to increase dimensional stability and reduce the hygroscopicity of archaeological wood. The aim of the study was to identify interactions between ...
J Siuda, W Perdoch, B Mazela, M Zborowska


Chemical modification of cellulose nanofibrils for tailoring properties of composites
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40934
Due to its natural abundance, complete biodegradability and excellent properties, cellulose is one of the most promising materials for the production of bio composites, as well as one of the most promising fillers for biodegradable polymer composites. This is also true for nanocellulose. A large number of hydroxyl groups on the surface of fibers or fibrils enables a whole series of chemical reacti...
I Poljanšek, J Levanič, V Ž Bogataj, V Vek, P Oven


Biocomposites based on PVA, cellulose nanofibrils and tannic acid
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40957
Biocomposite films based on a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with the addition of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) as a reinforcing component and with the addition of the biologically active tannic acid (TA) were prepared. The influence of different additions of CNF and TA in the polymer matrix PVA on the mechanical properties, improvement of hydrophobicity of the prepared films was studied. In all cases, the...
U Osolnik, V Vek, I Poljanšek, Poven


A novel cellulose-binding domain from the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11019
Wood-rotting basidiomycetes are the major organisms decomposing wood in nature. They are classified into two groups based on their decay modes; white-rot fungi and brown-rot fungi. White-rot fungi secrete various cellulolytic enzymes during the wood degradation process. The enzymes are known to be often appended with a cellulose binding domain (CBD) which assists the activity of catalytic domain. ...
Y Kojima, N Sunagawa, M Aoki, M Wada, K Igarashi, M Yoshida


The cellulose binding mechanism of a novel cellulose binding domain from the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11021
In nature, wood decay is caused by various wood-rotting basidiomycetes. Wood-rotting basidiomycete are mainly divided into white-rot fungi and brown-rot fungi. Their main carbon source is cellulose of the wood cell wall during wood decay, and they produce a variety of enzymes to decompose cellulose. The cellulolytic enzymes often possess a cellulose binding domain (CBD) as an additional domain con...
M Aoki, Y Kojima, M Wada, M Yoshida


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