Investigating plywood behaviour in outdoor conditions

Moisture behaviour of plywood is investigated in combination with detailed structural analysis. In the lab, neutron radiography and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) were used to map the moisture distribution and internal structure of plywood respectively. In an outdoor natural weathering test, the average moisture content (MC) and moisture distribution of plywood were monitored using a continuous moisture measurement set-up and an adapted electrical method, respectively. The structural changes of the specimens during weathering were recorded by using X-ray CT. Based on the interrelationship of moisture behaviour and structure, suggestions are given for improving the water resistance of plywood by optimising structure

Moisture behavior and structural changes of plywood during outdoor exposure

Plywood is an important wood-based construction material yet prone to water uptake, as such potentially decreasing mechanical properties and increasing decay risk. It is, therefore, essential to understand the moisture behavior and structural changes of plywood in service. In this research, several plywood specimens were exposed in outdoor weathering conditions for approximately one year. During this period, the average moisture variation of and moisture distribution in different veneer layers of a set of plywood specimens and detailed field weather information were recorded continuously. The internal structure of the specimens was also monitored by periodically scanning using X-ray CT. Measurements indicate that moisture distribution in plywood is not homogeneous in outdoor conditions. The second layer can, in some plywood types, accumulate a significant amount of rain, and long rainy periods and cloudy weather can keep the moisture content of the inner layers of plywood significantly high. Moisture accumulation and moisture dynamics, in combination with wood species, are the main factors causing structural changes, mainly occurring as cracks, of the plywood veneers in service. The glue line between the veneers, however, is not ruptured after one year of outdoor exposure. Plywood with layers having a slow water sorption and fast water desorption could effectively avoid internal moisture accumulation and cracks in service. Based on the knowledge of the interrelationship of weather data, internal moisture behavior and structural changes in service, fit-for-purpose design of plywood could be improved and service life prediction is at hand

Combining Wood Protection Options to Enhance Resistance against Decay and Improve Fire Safety of Engineered Wood Products like CLT

Bio-based building products are considered key in our future socio-economic environment, since they are a very relevant nature-based solution (NbS) to climate change. The statement of President von der Leyen (European commission) to turn the construction sector into a carbon sink is critical in this respect: bio-based materials should be used on a larger and more targeted scale in the future. The long-term use of materials is therefore very important since we need to improve the lifespan of renewable materials to increase its carbon sink potential. Hence wood is increasingly considered as a main building material. Service life aspects are critical in relation to the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Traditional treatments to protect against fungal decay and the impact of fire are not always performing adequately and often environmental impact has been an important consideration. The option to enhance wood properties using innovative technologies can be combined with better definition of the expectations and requirements. Besides focusing on combined innovative treatments of the wood matrix, also envelope treatments similar to the use of coatings can be envisaged. This all should lead to an increased use of timber and engineered wood products for green building. This paper mainly focusses on the increased use and high potential of CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) and options to use hardwoods and modified wood (like TMT) in relation to moisture dynamics to come to fit-for-purpose material properties even under more hazardous circumstances

Effect of Sputtering Temperature on Fluorocarbon Films: Surface Nanostructure and Fluorine/Carbon Ratio

In this work, fluorocarbon film was deposited on silicon (P/100) substrate using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as target material at elevated sputtering temperature. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to investigate the surface morphology as well as structural and chemical compositions of the deposited film. The surface energy, as well as the polar and dispersion components, were determined by water contact angle (WCA) measurement. The experimental results indicated that increasing sputtering temperature effectively led to higher deposition rate, surface roughness and WCA of the film. It was found that the elevated temperature contributed to increasing saturated components (e.g., C–F2 and C–F3) and decreasing unsaturated components (e.g., C–C and C–CF), thus enhancing the fluorine-to-carbon (F/C) ratio. The results are expected aid in tailoring the design of fluorocarbon films for physicochemical properties