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Evaluation of the efficacy of silver nanoparticles and chitosan oligomer composites as poplar wood protective treatments against termites
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40963
Populus × euramericana ‘I-214’ (poplar) is a fast-growing species widely distributed throughout the world, and in the Castile-Leon region of Spain it accounts for more than 50% of all plantations. Its wood is becoming increasingly appreciated, yet its low durability against xylophagous agents —termites being one of the most aggressive and destructive in warm climates— continues to be a li...
E Spavento, M T Troya, M Casado-Sanz, J Martín-Gil, P Matín-Ramos, L Robertson, L Acuña-Rello


Adhesion and performance of exterior wood coatings on chemically and thermally modified wood – Results from 5.5 years outdoor exposure
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40964
Non-durable softwood and hardwood species were treated with the water-soluble cyclic N-methylol compounds 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) and methylated DMDHEU. One half of the modified specimens were coated with a waterborne acrylic coating system prior a natural weathering for 5.5 years according to EN 927-3 (2020). By frequent evaluations, the impact of chemical modifications ...
L Emmerich, H Militz


Investigating the fire properties of a composite material made of MDF-residues, citric acid and sorbitol
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40969
In times of climate change and a shortage of energy and raw materials, it has become apparent, that material reuse of wood in a cascade system can reduce the ecological impact of a material and be cost effective. A new composite material has been developed made from citric acid, sorbitol, water and waste MDF. Not only will there be a material reuse option for waste MDF but due to the small particl...
P T Lewandowski, W Perdoch, E Larnoy, H Militz


Australian timber durability research needs
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50385
Australia was once a world leader in timber durability research, but prolonged disinvestment resulted in a gradual decline in capacity. Forest and Wood Products Australia recognized this problem and supported the development of the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life to help reverse this decline and begin to educate the next generation of Australian researchers. The Centre is a collabor...
J J Morrell


On the use of miniaturized wood specimens in fungal decay experiments – mini-blocks versus EN 113 test specimens
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11044
Preliminary evaluation and classification of wood durability against decay fungi using laboratory monoculture experiments has been a longstanding practice because these tests offer quicker results than field tests. Various methods, including miniaturized specimen formats and different incubation periods, have been explored to expedite decay processes and assess wood preservation efficacy. The 'min...
C Brischke, G Alfredsen


X-ray micro-computed tomography of copper distribution in CA, ACQ and MCA treated wood and changes in microstructure of ACQ-treated southern pine following natural weathering
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20707
We hypothesized that X-ray micro-CT would be able to visualize: (a) the distribution of copper in CA-treated southern pine; and (b) microstructural changes in ACQ-treated southern pine exposed to natural weathering. Small blocks were removed from southern pine samples treated with CA and also southern pine treated with ACQ and MCA. Small blocks were also removed from ACQ-treated boards (flat and p...
D Feng, M Turner, P D Evans


Natural weathering of modified pine and Eucalyptus woods by surface charring
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30801
Within various wood modification techniques, surface charring is anticipated to extend the lifespan of wooden components in building facades; however, visual deterioration of charred cladding materials has become a notable concern. This study, conducted through international collaboration, aimed to assess the resistance of bio-based facade materials to weathering in the Turkish climate. The natura...
E E Soyturk, E N Kavakli, S N Kartal, C M Ibanez


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


Shelling of flat and profiled western larch deck-boards exposed to natural weathering
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40997
Shelling is a severe type of raised grain that occurs at the surface of deck-boards made from wood species that have growth rings with pronounced differences in density between earlywood and latewood, for example southern pine (Pinus spp.). Shelling is more severe in deck-boards fixed with their growth rings oriented pith-side-up (concave) rather than bark-side-up (convex). Far less is known about...
L H Leung, P D Evans


Evaluation of the water exclusion ability and inherent bioactivity of heartwood against decay in Japanese and European wood species via above-ground exposure and water absorption tests
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40998
The natural durability of wood has been thought to mainly depend on bioactive extractives and the water exclusion ability. To clarify the contribution of each factor to wood durability, above-ground exposure tests were conducted on Japanese and European wood species. A double-layer test was carried out using heartwood specimens of four wood species, i.e., Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, Scots pi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto


Bio-based thermal insulation panels – a way of cascading utilization of post-consumer wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50388
Cascading wood utilization is critical to fulfilling a circular economy frame in the wood industry. The work's aim was to apply wood dust from plywood production to the production of innovative bio-based thermal insulation panels. Trametes hirsute fungus was used as a composite binder, and then a composite structure and thermal insulation properties, water absorbability, and strength properties of...
W Perdoch, A Szelag


Biofabrication of composite materials – Utilizing lignocellulosic biomass and mycelium in 3D printing
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50396
In this research, we investigated the potential of utilising lignocellulosic biomass and mycelium for 3D printing applications to develop sustainable biocomposite materials. Our study began with a systematic investigation of various fungal cultures, including Pleurotus ostreatus, Schizophyllum commune, Ganoderma resinaceum, Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum, in combination with substrat...
D Krzisnik, B Žuran, M Kariž, M Humar


Multifactorial analysis of the reasons behind wood natural durability
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11065
Physical, chemical and biological properties of several wood species were investigated in order to highlight the main factors involved in wood natural durability and wood characteristic using a principal component analysis. Interaction of wood with water were evaluated using contact angle measurements to determinate wood wettability by water and wood impregnability tests with water allowing to cal...
L-F E Nkogo, M S M Mouendou, S Dumarçay, P E Engonga, F Zannini, E Gelhaye, P Gérardin


Natural and enhanced durability of wood exposed above ground
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11079
Understanding and predicting the durability of wood is essential for ensuring its effective use, long-term reliability, and sustainability in various applications. To address this need, the "Wood Above Ground" project was initiated in 1999 at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to investigate the natural durability of wood species under a wide range of above-ground exposure scenarios. This ex...
R Digaitis, J Stenbaek, A W Christof, N Morsing, B Lindegaard


Securing Flame Retardancy in Wood: Durability After Artificial and Natural Weathering Test
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20738
The outdoor use of wood is often limited by challenges such as dimensional instability, vulnerability to fungal decay, and high flammability. Traditional flame retardant treatments improve fire resistance but suffer from significant leaching under environmental exposure, reducing their long-term effectiveness. This study introduces an innovative solution by integrating flame retardants with DMDHEU...
M Wu, L Martin, H Militz


Influence of incising methods and wood moisture content on ‘deep penetration treatment’ in Japanese cedar and larch
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20749
To expand applicability of ‘deep penetration treatment’, a solvent-borne and non-pressure treatment that is commonly coupled with roller-type incising using a flat blade, we investigated drill and laser machining as alternative incising methods and examined the influence of wood moisture content on the preservative penetration. Various incising methods were applied to heartwood of Japanese ced...
S Taira, T Miyauchi, S Isaji, H Matsunaga


The impact of common fire retardancy salts and minerals on further properties of wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30821
Wood has become an increasingly important construction material. To ensure fire safety, fire retardants are widely applied. Recent research focuses on environmentally friendly fire retardants with strong fixation. Phosphate-based salts like diammonium hydrogen phosphate show high fire protection potential but are highly leachable due to their good water solubility. As a newer trend mineralisation ...
T Franke, T Volkmer


Evaluation of moisture exclusion ability of wood using double-layer outdoor exposure tests
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41021
The material resistance of wood to decay must be due to the combined effects of heartwood extractives and the moisture content state. Evaluating the moisture exclusion ability of wood is important for assessing its durability in outdoor use. We conducted previously double-layer outdoor exposure tests and investigated the relationship between moisture content over time and the progress of decay usi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto


Bio-Based but Toxic? The Neglected Ecotoxicity of Leachates from Wood Preservatives—A mini-review
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50403
Bio-based Wood preservatives, derived from renewable biomass, are emerging as promising alternatives to traditional synthetic wood preservatives. Research groups all around the world are studying the development of bio-based – environmentally friendly – wood preservatives and their fixation to wood finding natural compounds with very promising wood preserving potential. However, there is a ver...
A Barbero-Lopez, A Haapala


Contribution of naturally durable wood use to Circular Economy - Understanding the classification system of natural durability and its variation within wood species
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50411
Total wood demand is shown by FAO to increase 49 percent between 2020 and 2050, regardless of deteriorating conditions such as deforestation and degradation due to fire and biological damages. Demand for wood as a building material is also projected by UNEP to increase significantly to 300 Gt in 2040. To address this situation, extension of the service life and re-use of wood are expected to make ...
K Yamamoto, T Osawa, R Noda


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