Your search resulted in 343 documents. Displaying 25 entries per page.
Using satellite-retrieved soil moisture data to model the decay risk of in-ground timber
2022 - IRG/WP 22-20689
Satellite-derived soil moisture data from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) was extracted for a 9 x 9 km point grid over Europe. The data was then used as input to a dose-response wood decay model based on terrestrial microcosm (TMC) tests. The resulting hazard map plotted dose as an indicator of in-ground wood decay based on differences in annual temperature and soil moisture characteristic...
P B van Niekerk, M Schönauer, B N Marais, C Brischke
Post-layup protection of mass timber elements in above ground protected exposures: 2-year results
2022 - IRG/WP 22-30766
Mass timber has seen increased use as a building material for low and mid-rise construction in recent decades. The durability of mass timber elements has not been fully examined and the effects of wood destroying organisms on this these materials merits attention. The effectiveness of currently labeled soil termiticides and passively applied biocides at post-construction or as remedial agents need...
M E Mankowski, T G Shelton, G T Kirker, J J Morrell
Molecular dynamics investigation of wood modification with furfuryl alcohol
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40931
Molecular dynamics (MD) was applied to investigate and understand the structural characteristics and the interaction of cellulose and lignin with furfuryl alcohol for explaining the wood modification process. A single chain of cellulose polymer model and a softwood lignin model was considered to represent cellulose and lignin polymers. The obtained radial distribution function results revealed tha...
V Ponnuchamy, J Sandak, A Sandak
Metabolite analysis of fungal COS degradation and phylogenetic investigation of COSase genes
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11018
Fungi are the major species causing microbial deterioration that reduces the commercial value of wood, such as wood decay and surface contamination, so it is important to accumulate knowledge on the physiology of fungi in order to develop countermeasures against these problems. Most physiological studies of fungi that have been reported have concerned the metabolism of carbohydrates as a source of...
R Iizuka, S Hattori, I Ohtsu, D Hibbett, Y Katayama, M Yoshida
Resistance of phenol formaldehyde impregnated beech (Fagus sylvativa L.) LVL against biodegradation in soil contact
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40965
Alternatives to preservative impregnation are emphasized in Germany and other European countries. Even though these treatments significantly improve wood's resistance to decay, they often do not have a beneficial impact on the dimensional stability. One alternative product, which may be used in ground contact for items like poles and railway sleepers, could be beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) laminated ...
M Slabohm, C Brischke, S Bicke, H Militz
Laboratory and field evaluations of bio-based termiticide containing Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® against native and Formosan subterranean termites
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11049
Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® is a 100% plant-based ingredient, rich in active molecules, particularly polyphenols, specially adapted to the needs and challenges of termite protection. The efficacy performance of a bio-based termiticide product containing Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® had been evaluated both in soil treatment and in wood protection treatment against native ...
D Messaoudi, J Curole, Q Wu
Investigation on the use of whey ultrafiltration permeate as a biosourced agent of wood protection
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20718
The ever-growing demand for sustainable materials has driven research toward innovative strategies in both the fields of material science and environmental management. Wood is a natural composite that is attracting more and more attention due to its high physical strength, great machinability, aesthetic appeal, and low price as a renewable and biodegradable resource. It has a long-standing history...
A Keralta, J Winninger, J Chamberland, V Landry
Preliminary investigation of the durability and performance of 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) treated aspen strandboard
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30804
Wood modification technologies are growing in popularity because of their potential to improve wood properties by permanent covalent chemical modifications rather than chemical impregnation. These features can be utilized in wood composites to help improve dimensional stability and composite resistance to fungal decay. In this study, 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) was used to m...
S Johnson, F Kamke, G Presley
Modelling the service life of wood in ground contact – Verification of remotely sensed soil data from the reanalysis dataset ERA5-Land using in-situ measurements at a test site of utility poles in Eastern Norway
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41003
This study compared soil moisture and temperature estimates from the 5th European reanalysis (ERA5-Land) dataset with in-situ measurements to assess the accuracy and applicability of ERA5-Land data for modelling the service life of wood in ground contact. The ERA5-Land soil temperature estimates showed a moderate correlation with the in-situ temperature measurements (Spearman’s ρ of 0.73) and a...
U Hundhausen, P B van Niekerk, B Marais
Performance of Douglas-fir cross laminated timber (CLT) subjected to elevated humidity in a ground proximity field test for 6 years
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41010
The ability of insecticidal soil drenches or spray-on insecticide/fungicide treatments to protect mass timber elements exposed in a high moisture environment but out of direct soil contact was assessed using a modified AWPA ground proximity test established in 2017. Three-ply Douglas-fir CLT pieces measuring 305 x 355 x 105 mm (L x H x W) were installed at the Harrison Experimental Forest (HEF) (S...
M E Mankowski, J J Morrell, T G Shelton, G T Kirker
Fungal degradation of oak timber bridges
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11058
Wood is increasingly recognised as an eco-friendly building material, but its organic nature makes it vulnerable to degradation, especially in outdoor applications exposed to moisture. This study investigates wood-decaying fungi affecting oak timber bridges in Hanover, Germany. The study aimed to identify the fungal species using culture-independent methods and to examine the impact of poorly exec...
L Schrader, J Trautner, C Brischke
Investigation of oxalic acid production in brown-rot fungi
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11074
Brown-rot fungi play a crucial role as wood decomposers in forests and are also known as the main cause of biodeterioration of wooden buildings in Japan. Therefore, understanding their decomposition mechanisms is important for the maintenance and preservation of wooden structures. While white-rot fungi generally use enzyme-system for degradation, many brown-rot fungi lack cellobiohydrolases which ...
S Matsumoto, R Tsukida, T Ito, M Iritani, M Yoshida
Evaluating the Efficacy of Arnica Extract-Based Termiticide from Berkem Biosolutions® in Subterranean Termite Control: A Comprehensive Laboratory and Four-Year Field Study
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20731
Subterranean termites pose significant threats to wooden structures. This study evaluated the efficacy of a bio-based termiticide product containing Arnica extract from Berkem Biosolutions® in controlling subterranean termites in both laboratory and field conditions. The laboratory assessments utilised “the Bottle H” test unit, adhering to the Japan Wood Preservation Association (JWPA) standa...
D Messaoudi, S Khoirul Himmi, D Tarmadi, I Guswenrivo, S Yusuf
Investigation of a commercial fire-retardant additive on particleboard properties
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20755
Fire resistance of wood-based panels is in addition to mechanical and sorption properties, an important property when considering its usability for construction applications. Increased fire resistance is achieved through fire retardant addition during panel production or by spraying fire-retardant on already finished panel. A potential downside of fire-retardant addition during panel production ca...
D Jones, S Medved, M Lawther
Investigation of the Correlation between Blue-Light and Transparent Wood and Its Impact on Eye cells
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41042
The widespread use of LED blue light (400–480 nm) in modern life has raised concerns due to its potential risks to eye health, including retinal cell damage and vision degradation. Transparent wood, a renewable material with unique optical properties and environmental benefits, shows promising potential for blue light protection applications. This study investigates the modulation of lignin cont...
J-Y Jiang, C W Lin, P-Y Kuo
Investigation of Impregnation Factors for Biomass-Based Phenol-Formaldehyde Resins
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41044
This study investigates the impregnation factors affecting the treatment of wood with biomass-based phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins, such as impregnation methods, resin properties, and setting parameters like time and pressure. The goal is to ensure effective resin penetration into the wood cell wall structure, thereby enhancing wood durability and mechanical properties. Previous literature has la...
Y-C Huang, T-H Lin, P-Y Kuo
Investigation of Pressure-Treated Foundations with Wood Preservative and Termite Control in Existing Wooden Houses in Japan
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50402
Japan has extremely limited natural resources. Therefore, it is necessary to build a circular economy in which waste and other recyclable resources are effectively utilized in order to achieve sustainable development. This study aims to investigate the degradation of existing wooden houses and to contribute to the reuse of existing houses and the reuse of building materials during demolition. We i...
K Usami, T Kawada, H Ishiyama
Migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil from creosote-treated Douglas-fir and southern pine posts in the first 12 months since installation
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50404
Creosote is a widely used industrial wood preservative largely used for infrastructure-related applications such as utility poles, railway ties, and in marine pilings for protection against fungi, insects, and marine wood borers. Creosote is a coal tar distillate consisting of a complex mixture of organic compounds that together function as a biocide. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are th...
K Quigley, G Presley