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Investigating water transport in MDF and OSB using a gantry-based X-ray CT scanning system

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Abstract

Both medium density fiberboard (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) are important engineered wood products. Water uptake can decrease their physical and mechanical properties as well as induce fungal decay. It is therefore essential to understand the water transport behavior in these products in detail. In this research, a state-of-the-art gantry-based X-ray CT scanner was used to investigate the water transport and the internal microstructure of the specimens from different types of MDF and OSB during water uptake. The results show that water, obviously, is mainly absorbed from the sides of all specimens during immersion testing. Water can reach the interior of the small specimens within 1 h through large fibers and strands. Although water movement through voids is slow, high water content can be reached when these voids are filled; for example, moisture content of more than 100 % is found in MDF. A compact structure can effectively decrease water accumulation in voids. Furthermore, the presence of a water-resistant adhesive, a water-repellent additive and acetylated fibers clearly influences water transport behavior in wood fibers and voids, increasing water resistance and improve structural stability of MDF. Moisture dynamics of OSB are different, among others influenced by orientation of the strands: grain direction perpendicular to the water uptake direction can protect OSB from water penetration. Furthermore, strands covered with resin have a good water resistance.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Stijn Willen and Mr. Pieter Vanderniepen for technical assistance. The author also would like to thank the fund from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for the Ph.D. funding granted to the first author. This research was performed in support of the European Project SILEX “Improving sustainability of construction materials using innovative silicon-based treatment”, with Project Number LIFE11 ENV/BE/1046 and the National Project DO-IT Houtbouw, with VIS Traject Project Number 110803 of the Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT). The authors also thank the companies Norbord (www.norbord.co.uk) and Medite Europe Ltd (www.medite-europe.com) via Accsys Technologies (www.accoya.com) for supplying the test specimens.

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  1. Wanzhao Li

    Present address: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Forest and Water Management, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University (UGCT), Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Wanzhao Li, Jan Van den Bulcke & Joris Van Acker

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University Ghent Centre for X-ray Tomography (UGCT), Proeftuinstraat 86, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Thomas De Schryver

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  1. Wanzhao Li
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  2. Jan Van den Bulcke
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  3. Thomas De Schryver
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  4. Joris Van Acker
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Correspondence to Wanzhao Li.

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Li, W., Van den Bulcke, J., De Schryver, T. et al. Investigating water transport in MDF and OSB using a gantry-based X-ray CT scanning system. Wood Sci Technol 50, 1197–1211 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-016-0855-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-016-0855-8

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