Enhanced Anti-Mold Property and Mechanism Description of Ag/TiO2 Wood-Based Nanocomposites Formation by Ultrasound- and Vacuum-Impregnation

Enhanced Preservative Performance of Pine Wood through Nano-Xylan Treatment Assisted by High-Temperature Steam and Vacuum Impregnation

This study used environmentally friendly nano-xylan to enhance the drug loading and preservative performance (especially against white-rot fungi) of pine wood (Pinus massoniana Lamb), determine the best pretreatment, nano-xylan modification process, and analyze the antibacterial mechanism of nano-xylan. High-temperature, high-pressure steam pretreatment-assisted vacuum impregnation was applied to enhance the nano-xylan loading. The nano-xylan loading generally increased upon increasing the steam pressure and temperature, heat-treatment time, vacuum degree, and vacuum time. The optimal loading of 14.83% was achieved at a steam pressure and temperature of 0.8 MPa and 170 °C, heat treatment time of 50 min, vacuum degree of 0.08 MPa, and vacuum impregnation time of 50 min. Modification with nano-xylan prohibited the formation of hyphae clusters inside the wood cells. The degradation of integrity and mechanical performance were improved. Compared with the untreated sample, the mass loss rate of the sample treated with 10% nano-xylan decreased from 38 to 22%. The treatment with high-temperature, high-pressure steam significantly enhanced the crystallinity of wood.

Nanotechnology and Wood Science

Nanotechnology, in a sense, is not entirely a new concept [...].

Advances in Micro-/Mesopore Regulation Methods for Plant-Derived Carbon Materials

In recent years, renewable and clean energy has become increasingly important due to energy shortage and environmental pollution. Selecting plants as the carbon precursors to replace costly non-renewable energy sources causing severe pollution is a good choice. In addition, owing to their diverse microstructure and the rich chemical composition, plant-based carbon materials are widely used in many fields. However, some of the plant-based carbon materials have the disadvantage of possessing a large percentage of macroporosity, limiting their functionality. In this paper, we first introduce two characteristics of plant-derived carbon materials: diverse microstructure and rich chemical composition. Then, we propose improvement measures to cope with a high proportion of macropores of plant-derived carbon materials. Emphatically, size regulation methods are summarized for micropores (KOH activation, foam activation, physical activation, freezing treatment, and fungal treatment) and mesopores (H3PO4 activation, enzymolysis, molten salt activation, and template method). Their advantages and disadvantages are also compared and analyzed. Finally, the paper makes suggestions on the pore structure improvement of plant-derived carbon materials.

Experimental investigation on the ultrasonic impregnation of wood through measurements of the intensity of sonoluminescence

Ultrasonic impregnation is thought to be an effective way of permeation of liquid into material through the material-surface reforming with the attack by an ultrasonic cavitation jet or by the shock wave emitted from a collapsing bubble, or through dynamic transformation of material like a sponge. The action of a cavitation bubble can also provide penetration of liquid into the interior of the material. This paper investigates whether there is a correlation between the intensity of sonoluminescence (SL) measured at different positions and the increment in the mass of the wood material (cedar) after sonication with immersion into water in order to clarify the role of cavitation bubbles for ultrasonic impregnation. It was found that a high mass change was obtained for the material located at the position for high (the maximum) SL intensity. The number density of ultrasonic cavitation bubbles that are able to collapse leading to the emission of SL is correlated with the degree of ultrasonic impregnation.

Nano-AgCu Alloy on Wood Surface for Mold Resistance

The mold infection of wood reduces the quality of its surface and potentially endangers human health. One category of the most popular mold inhibitors on the market is water-soluble fungicides. However, easy leaching due to ionic forms is a problem, which reduces the effectiveness of their antimicrobial action, as well as causing environmental pollution. Interestingly, nanometer-sized sterilizing agents present strong permeability and highly fungicidal behavior, and they are not easily leached, due to the unique nanoscale effect, and they have become alternative candidates as marketable anti-mold agents for wood protection. In this study, we first designed and explored a nanoscale alloy (nano silver–copper alloy, nano-AgCu) to treat wood surfaces for mold growth resistance. The results showed that three molds, i.e., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma viride, mainly grew on the surface of wood within a depth of 100 μm; and that the nano-AgCu alloy with a particle size of ~15 nm presented improved retention and anti-mold efficiency at a nanomaterial concentration on the wood surface. Its leaching rate increased non-linearly with the increase in nano-AgCu retention and then it showed a gradually decreasing trend. When the concentration reached 1000 mg/L, the nano-AgCu alloy uniformly distributed on the wood surface in a monodispersed state and exhibited a lower retention of 0.342 g/m², with an anti-mold efficiency of more than 75% and a leaching rate of only 7.678%. Such results positioned 1000 mg/L as the toxic threshold concentration of nano-AgCu against the three molds. This study can provide a scientific basis for the analysis of the anti-mold mechanisms of nano-AgCu alloy on wood surfaces and guide the application of nano-metal alloy materials in the field of wood antimicrobials.

Fast Preparation of High-Performance Wood Materials Assisted by Ultrasonic and Vacuum Impregnation

In the absence of high-quality hardwood timber resources, we have gradually turned our attention from natural forests to planted fast-growing forests. However, fast-growing tree timber in general has defects such as low wood density, loose texture, and poor mechanical properties. Therefore, improving the performance of wood through efficient and rapid technological processes and increasing the utilization of inferior wood is a good way to extend the use of wood. Densification of wood increases the strength of low-density wood and extends the range of applications for wood and wood-derived products. In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic and vacuum pretreatment on the properties of high-performance wood were explored by combining sonication, vacuum impregnation, chemical softening, and thermomechanical treatments to densify the wood; then, the changes in the chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of poplar wood before and after treatment were analyzed comparatively by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and mechanical tests. The results showed that with ultrasonic pretreatment and vacuum impregnation, the compression ratio of high-performance wood reached its highest level and the MOR and MOE reached their maximums. With the help of this method, fast-growing softwoods can be easily prepared into dense wood materials, and it is hoped that this new material can be applied in the fields of construction, aviation, and automobile manufacturing.

Highly Hydrophobic and Self-Cleaning Heat-Treated Larix spp. Prepared by TiO2 and ZnO Particles onto Wood Surface

The deposition of TiO2/ZnO on heat-treated wood was prepared by a hydrothermal reaction and sol-gel method. Highly hydrophobic wood was successfully prepared with low surface free energy. The surface-modified wood samples were characterized by 3D-laser shape measurement microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the microstructure and chemical composition investigation. The deposited TiO2 or ZnO markedly made the wood surface brighter, which was demonstrated by visual observation and spectrophotometer. The TiO2/ZnO particles were successfully loaded onto the surface of the wood, proven by SEM-EDS and FTIR analyses. The contact angle of TiO2 and ZnO-modified wood reached 123.9° and 134.1° respectively, which is obviously higher than that of the control at 88.9°. The hydrophobic properties of the TiO2/ZnO modified wood samples were directly related to the shapes of clusters and spheres of particles, which increased the roughness of the wood surface. This study shows the hydrophobic properties of the TiO2/ZnO-modified wood and provides the color and roughness changes for the painting process of heat-treated wood.