Workshop “Mechano-Chemical transformations of wood during Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical processing”

Workshop
“Mechano-Chemical transformations of wood
during Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical processing”

February 16-18, 2011
Biel (Bienne), Switzerland
contact person : Parviz Navi (parviz.navi@bfh.ch)

Workshop objectives
The objectives of this workshop is to present and discuss the state of art of THM and Thermo-Hydrous (TH) processing in open and closed systems and the challenges faced in wood characterization for process scaling-up from laboratory to full industrial production, through the discussion of latest research results and new ideas.
The advantage of combining renewable resources such as “wood” with a processing technique with low environmental impact to achieve a new high quality material is highly desirable. However, there are many problems associated with TH/THM processing, which require an interdisciplinary approach to be resolved. This means that a close collaboration between the wood mechanics and wood chemistry communities from both academia and industry is needed.
The workshop will bring together experts and young scientists from European academia as well as from other countries, and industry. It will encourage dissemination of the latest research works, exchanging and developing new ideas, and building collaborations between laboratories and research activities.

Workshop Topics:
Thermo-Hydrous (Heat treatment) in close systems
Modelling of THM wood treated by closed systems
Innovation and new products by THM-open systems

Call for Papers

Please send the abstracts to parviz.navi@bfh.ch

October 31, 2010 Extended abstract submission deadline.
November 12, 2010 Notification of Acceptance of the Abstract
November 19, 2010 Registration deadline
December 17, 2010 Submission of revised abstract based on the format given in the Action Website (which is under construction).

Wood Welding

No additives are used to create the connection in wood welding. By the generation of energy by friction, focused on the interface of the pieces to be connected, a transformation of the wood structure by pyrolysis is obtained. The result is a sticking material which ensures the connection in form of an adhesive layer. A circular motion is applied to the parts to be welded. Since the process is controlled by the generation of heat due to the frictional movement, the parameters, which are influencing the generation of heat are of great importance: These are on the one hand, the machine settings such as for example the welding pressure, the frequency and the amplitude of the frictional movement; in addition, the material properties such as moisture content, orientation of the annual rings, density, the species of wood, etc. play an important role. The interfacial temperature defines the physical properties of the interface, which undergoes various «states of aggregation» (solid, liquid, gaseous) during the process of welding. The thermal decomposition of the material leads to the formation of newly formed chemical compounds. Examinations of the microstructure of the interfacial region give an indication how adherence between the welded parts happens.
(summary and the first picture from website of the laboratory for timber construction at EPFL)