• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2019

This paper examines the classification of five coniferous species, including larch (Larix kaempferi), red pine (Pinus densiflora), Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis), cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), and cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), using near-infrared (NIR) spectra. Fifty lumber samples were collected for each species. After air-drying the lumber, the NIR spectra (wavelength = 780-2500 nm) were acquired on the wide face of the lumber samples. Soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) was performed to classify the five species using their NIR spectra. Three types of spectra (raw, standard normal variated, and Savitzky-Golay $2^{nd}$ derivative) were used to compare the classification reliability of the SIMCA models. The SIMCA model based on Savitzky-Golay $2^{nd}$ derivatives preprocessing was determined as the best classification model in this study. The accuracy, minimum precision, and minimum recall of the best model (PCA models using Savitzky-Golay $2^{nd}$ derivative preprocessed spectra) were evaluated as 73.00%, 98.54% (Korean pine), and 67.50% (Korean pine), respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.842-851
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to improve physical and mechanical properties of soft-inner part of oil palm trunk (S-OPT) after impregnation with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin and densification by close system compression (CSC) method. Effect of different methods of PF resin impregnation (i.e., no vacuum-pressure, vacuum, and vacuum-pressure) was evaluated. The results showed that PF resin impregnation and CSC significantly improved the physical and mechanical properties of S-OPT up to: (1) 176% in density; (2) 309% in modulus of rupture (MOR); (3) 287% modulus of elasticity (MOE); and (4) 191% in the compressive strength. Physical and mechanical properties of S-OPT showed their best performances when PF resin impregnated with vacuum-pressure method as shown by higher weight gain, density, MOR, MOE, compressive strength, and lower recovery of set due to better penetration of PF resin into S-OPT. Combining PF resin impregnation and densification by CSC method could be a good method to improve physical and mechanical properties of S-OPT.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

Sengon (Falcataria moluccana Miq.) tree offers a wood of low quality and durability owing to its low density and thin cell walls. This study aimed to improve the properties of sengon wood by making the wood magnetic, producing new functions, and characterizing magnetic sengon wood. Each wood sample was treated using one of the following impregnation solutions: Untreated, 7.5% nano magnetite-furfuryl alcohol (Fe₃O₄-FA), 10% nano Fe₃O₄-FA, and 12.5% nano Fe₃O₄-FA. The impregnation process began with vacuum treatment at 0.5 bar for 2 h, followed by applying a pressure of 1 bar for 2 h. The samples were then tested for dimensional stability and density and characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis. The results showed that the Fe₃O₄-FA impregnation treatment considerable affected the dimensional stability, measured in terms of weight percent gain, anti-swelling efficiency, water uptake, and bulking effect, as well as the density of sengon wood. Changes in wood morphology were detected by the presence of Fe deposits in the cell walls and cell cavities of the wood using SEM-EDX analysis. XRD and FTIR analyses showed the appearance of magnetite peaks in the diffractogram and Fe-O functional groups. Based on the VSM analysis, treated sengon wood is classified as a superparamagnetic material with soft magnetic properties. Overall, 10% Fe₃O₄-FA treatment led to the highest increase in dimensional stability and density of sengon wood.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1962

Hysteresis Loops explaining relationship between E.M.C. and relative humidities of some commercial woods grown in Korea which have not been inspected were studied. Because of Hysteresis Loops are differently constructed among species, the loop of each species is necessary to plot in order to apply for seasoning of wood directly. Therefore relationship between E.M.C. and relative humidities, and Hysteresis Loops were inspected and compaired between species. Small sized ($3{\times}3{\times}1.3cm$) twenty pieces of wood blocks for each species were taken from log which cut few years ago and already attained air dry condition. Five relative humidity conditions (9, 32, 58, 82 and 91%) were controlled to keep constant in the cabinet under temperature $25^{\circ}C$. According to the results, it is concluded that there are considerable differences on the E.M.C. among two types of sorption, eight species and five different relative humidity conditions. Adsorption and desorption curves are showing characteristic Sigmeid Curves and desorption curves always are on the adsorption curves at all compaired species. Average hysteresis ratio is 0.75, the constructed loops of tested species are showing open hysteresis generally and flatten loop constructions of Qnerets aemitissima and Robinia pseudoaeaeia of hard wood species than other soft wood are considered to be established by differences of stability between hard and soft wood.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2006

The heartwood of cengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii) is known to have a high degree of decay resistance by virtue of its high extractive content. After 30 years in ground contact an utility pole of this tropical hardwood was found to be degraded only in the surface layers by cavity-forming soft rot fungi. The present work was undertaken 1) to characterize the degradation of cengal heartwood from the aspect of ultrastructure and chemistry and 2) to investigate the correlation between soft rot decay and its extractive microdistribution in wood tissues. The chemical analysis of cengal heartwood revealed the presence of a high amount of extractives as well as lignin. The wood contained a relatively high amount of condensed lignin and the guaiacyl units. Microscopic observations revealed that vessels, fibers and parenchyma cells (both ray and axial parenchyma) all contained extractives in their lumina, but in variable amounts. The lumina of fibers and most axial parenchyma were completely or almost completely filled with the extractives. TEM micrographs showed that cell walls were also impregnated with extractives and that pit membranes connecting parenchyma cells were well coated and impregnated with extractives. However, fungal hyphae were present in the extractive masses localized in cell lumina, and indications were that the extractives did not completely inhibit fungal growth. The extent of cell wall degradation varied with tissue types. The fibers appeared to be more susceptible to decay than vessels and parenchyma. Middle lamella was the only cell wall region which remained intact in all cell types which were severely degraded. The microscopic observations suggested a close correlation between extractive microdistribution and the pattern and extent of cell wall degradation. In addition to the toxicity to fungi, the physical constraint of the extractive material present in cengal heartwood cells is likely to have a profound effect on the growth and path of invasion of colonizing fungi, thus conferring protection to wood by restricting fungal entry into cell walls. The presence of relatively high amount of condensed lignin is also likely to be a factor in the resistance of cengal heartwood to soft rot decay.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2015

In order to get basic data for flood plain restoration, we surveyed the woody vegetation in Korean natural rivers and analyzed the species' characteristics with regards to patterns of richness and diversity. These characteristics were higher in hard wood forests than those in soft wood forests, such as Salix spp. community. Futhermore, they were the highest in the Prunus sargentii-Pinus densiflora community(H' 1.095), and the lowest in the Carpinus laxiflora community(H' 0.118) among the hard wood forests. Species' richness diversity were the highest in the Salix gracilistyla community, but the lowest in the S. koriyangi community or S. koreensis community among the soft wood forests. With regards to the dominant index, just one community is over 0.9, 13 communities are between 0.3-0.7 and 15 communities are less than 0.3. The Salix koreensis community was the highest at 0.931, and Prunus sargentii-Pinus densiflora community was the lowest at 0.13. Species' richness and diversity was significantly correlated with tree layer coverages and degree of slope. These results mean that in order to increase plant species diversity in flood plains planted hard woody trees, such as oaks and fir, are needed to suit environmental conditions with steeper slope and lower canopy coverage.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate the resistance of heat-treated wood using the catalyst to decay caused by fungi for sapwood and heartwood of two tree species, Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), respectively. Wood samples were immersed for 10 min in sulfuric acid (7.5%) and then heat-treated at $130^{\circ}C$ for 90 min. Fomitopsis palustris, a brown-rot fungus, was used to examine the decay resistance of Korean red pine and Japanese larch wood. Weight and density of wood from the all conditions increased after heat treatment using the catalyst. Weight loss after decay resistance test was also dropped with a heat treatment. The lowest weight loss indicated at heat-treated heartwood of Japanese larch. Heat treatment using the catalyst effectively increased the resistance of wood to decay caused by fungi.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.431-449
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• 2020

Structural property of most hydrogels is soft, resulting in low mechanical performance that limits their usage in the biomedical applications. For overcoming the drawback, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were adopted in this study. Effects of CNCs on characteristics and drug delivery performance of poly (vinyl alcohol) based hydrogels were explored. FT-IR results showed that the fabricated hydrogels had semi-IPN (semi-interpenetrating polymer network) by formation of acetal and aldehyde bridge. Water absorption and swelling ratio decreased with increasing CNCs content, and the hydrogels with CNCs showed better viscoelastic performance than the without CNCs. Also, CNCs mostly improved the ability of the hydrogel to absorb the drug and the sustainability of the drug release. These results demonstrated that incorporating CNCs into the hydrogel systems can be a good alternative to improve drug delivery performance and mechanical property of the hydrogels.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2006

Because the surface of pine wood is very soft, there have been many attempts, like as surface coating, resin impregnation, and densificationt, to harden the surface of wood for its interior use. This study was carried out for surface hardening of pine wood by laminating of melamine resin sheet. The effect of laminating method on the characteristics of melamine resin sheet-laminated wood(MLW) was investigated. Flat-sawn softwoods were suitable for MLW making. And the pre-drying of wood at $105^{\circ}C$ for 30min, before laminating, was effective for preparing of defect-free MLW. The abrasion resistance of pine wood was greatly improved by laminating of melamine resin sheet on its surface. Consequently, the laminating of melamine resin sheet was proved to be a favorable method for improvement of surface abrasiveness of pine wood.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2006

ln order to manage efficiently many ancient wooden buildings, which have been preserved as cultural properties in Korea, the internal state of wood members should be evaluated exactly and periodically by a NDE (non-destructive evaluation) method. A research project was planned to develop an X-ray CT (computed tomography) system as a NDE method for wood, which could be easily applied in field. This paper includes the first part of this project. First of all, to establish a measuring procedure of wood density using X-ray radiography, the correlation between X-ray intensity and the film brightness was evaluated. Also, initial X-ray intensity was quantified with various radiate conditions controlled by the tube voltage and tube current. And then, the effects of density, annual ring angle, and thickness on the mass attenuation coefficient of wood were examined. Finally, Beer's law was modified with the above results and adopted to calculate the density of wood. As a result of this study, the measuring procedure of wood density was established using a portable soft X-ray device and this procedure was verified with some small wood specimens. This results will he used valuably for the following researches to develop a portable X-ray CT system.