Adam Olszewski, Agnieszka Tercjak, Łukasz Piszczyk
{"title":"Are interfaces the key? Validation of interfacial interactions in bio-based polyurethane-wood composites by quantitative nanomechanical property mapping","authors":"Adam Olszewski, Agnieszka Tercjak, Łukasz Piszczyk","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01728-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01728-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Interfacial interactions between constituent phases are critical determinants of mechanical and physical performance in polyurethane–wood composites (PU-WCs), especially when modified with bio-based components. Despite the growing interest in bio-based PU systems, a detailed understanding of interfacial interactions in PU-WCs remains limited. In this research, PU-WCs with various additions of bio-based polyol (BP) were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping (PeakForce QNM) was conducted to investigate the nanomechanical properties of PU-WCs. Our findings revealed a strong adhesion between the phases of the unmodified composite. A significant reduction of interphase thickness from 441.5 to 94.3 nm was noticed after the addition of BP, suggesting a weakening of interfacial interactions and reduced compatibility between phases in the PU-WCs. The adhesion image revealed the existence of two separated phases with different adhesion forces, where the brighter domains may be assigned to relatively high-rigidity isocyanate-rich domains and darker ones to polyol-rich domains. The maximal adhesion force decreases from 2.8 nN for PU-WC0%/BP to less than 1 nN for PU-WC80%BP. These findings highlight the importance of molecular architecture and interfacial structure on PU-WC performance and provide interesting insights for the design of novel wood-based materials.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00226-025-01728-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145560996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yongle Zhang, Yu Zhang, Lanying Lin, Yongdong Zhou, Feng Fu
{"title":"Cross-scale analysis of moisture absorption in microwave-treated Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) wood: synergistic effects of chemical composition and pore structure","authors":"Yongle Zhang, Yu Zhang, Lanying Lin, Yongdong Zhou, Feng Fu","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01729-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01729-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microwave treatment has shown potential to improve the hygroscopic stability of wood via cross-scale interactions between chemical composition and pore structure. This study investigated the hygroscopic behavior of microwave-treated <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> earlywood and latewood, revealing different responses driven by changes in chemical composition and pore structure synergy. The experimental results showed that microwave treatment reduced the equilibrium moisture content across a wide range of humidity, with the reduction in earlywood being pronounced than that in latewood. At the molecular level, modification of chemical composition, especially those resulting from reduced hemicellulose and hydroxyl accessibility, played a dominant role in limiting the moisture absorption capacity. At the cellular structural level, microwave-induced vapor pressure reshaped the micro-mesoporous network structure, including separation of rimmed pits and cell wall microcracks, further limiting the water retention capacity of wood. The high sensitivity of earlywood to microwave treatment stems from its inherent structural chemistry, which exacerbates chemical degradation and structural damage. These findings establish a coupling mechanism between structural and compositional changes, whereby chemical absorption site loss supersedes pore structure evolution in controlling hygroscopicity, providing key insights for optimizing microwave parameters to improve hygroscopic stability of wood.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145510891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Na Su, Yihua Li, Qingqing Yan, Mengqi Zhu, Hua Wang, Caiping Lian, Wenyu Su, Haocheng Xu
{"title":"Qualitative and quantitative study of the anatomical characteristics of Phyllostachys edulis rhizome","authors":"Na Su, Yihua Li, Qingqing Yan, Mengqi Zhu, Hua Wang, Caiping Lian, Wenyu Su, Haocheng Xu","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01731-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01731-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To explore the high-value utilization potential of bamboo rhizomes—typically discarded as forest residues—and to enrich the raw material base for bamboo-based plastic alternatives, this study systematically characterizes the micro-morphological features of <i>Phyllostachys sulphurea</i> rhizome (Golden-bamboo rhizome, G-rhizome) as a representative species, providing an in-depth understanding of its anatomical architecture and structural heterogeneity. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and computer-vision analysis were combined to map vascular bundles, fibers, parenchyma cells, and vessel elements in situ, followed by quantitative measurements of their dimensions and volumetric fractions. The results revealed that the overall anatomical configuration of G-rhizome closely resembles that of <i>Phyllostachys edulis</i> culm (Moso-bamboo culm, M-culm). However, the G-rhizome contained a markedly higher proportion of fibrous tissue (up to 48.57%). The fibers and parenchyma cells were smaller in size, while the vessel distribution exhibited a consistent radial gradient with vessel diameters averaging 127.93 μm—slightly smaller than those in M-culm. Moreover, the fibers in G-rhizome showed short length and low aspect ratio. These anatomical traits indicate that while the rhizome may not match the culm in structural reinforcement performance, it holds strong promise for conversion into biodegradable composites such as disposable tableware, flexible packaging, transparent films, and 3D-printing feedstocks, thereby expanding the resource base for bamboo-for-plastic initiatives.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145510940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative study of topochemical structures of polymorphous ornamental bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.) and their bioconversion performance after mild acid pretreatment","authors":"Ying He, Yufei Meng, Yayun Deng, Xiaohu Feng, Na Luo, Wenbo Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01726-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01726-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The exploration and high-value utilization of sustainable biomass materials have attracted substantial interest. In this study, ornamental bamboo biomass with varying growth forms influenced by different environmental conditions was investigated. The tissue anatomy and cell wall topochemistry of the bamboo species were analyzed via a series of advanced microscopic techniques. In addition, the crystal structures of the feedstocks and their variations attributed to bending effects were elucidated. After conventional mild acid pretreatment, the bioconversion performance of the bamboo materials was evaluated. Straight bamboo samples exhibited higher vascular bundle density, increased lignin content predominantly distributed in the middle lamella, and a greater proportion of crystalline cellulose located within the secondary wall of both fibers and parenchyma cells. These topochemical and supramolecular variations substantially influenced the pretreatment and bioconversion performance of the bamboo species. This study provides novel insights into the utilization and application of various bamboo processing materials for the development of value-added products.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145510938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sergey S. Khviyuzov, Anatoliy A. Sloboda, Aleksandr S. Volkov
{"title":"Transformation of physicochemical properties of lignin during nitration","authors":"Sergey S. Khviyuzov, Anatoliy A. Sloboda, Aleksandr S. Volkov","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01723-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01723-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The nitration reaction makes it possible to depolymerize the structures of condensed lignin to produce valuable chemical products. The physicochemical properties data of lignin nitro derivatives are necessary for their use. The nitrolignins were obtained on the basis of a slightly altered sample of dioxane lignin extracted from spruce wood. Water and ethanol solutions of nitric acid were used as nitrating agents. Changes in the elemental and functional composition, macromolecular, acid-base, redox, and electrophysical properties of lignin were determined by a complex of analytical methods. Characteristic changes in the conductive and dielectric properties of nitrolignins in the range of lower and medium frequencies of the electric field from 10<sup>− 2</sup> to 10<sup>3</sup> Hz have been established. The interrelation of the functional nature and physicochemical properties of lignin was shown.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145510939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of norlignan components in black heartwood of Japanese cedar on the self-bonding performance of binderless boards","authors":"Ryoto Yonaha, Yoko Kurokochi, Koetsu Takahashi, Yukie Saito","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01718-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01718-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Most Japanese cedar heartwood is reddish in color, but some of the wood is blackened. This phenomenon is related to the high potassium concentration, weak alkalinity, and denaturation of norlignans. Owing to its dark color and high moisture content, blackened wood has a low timber price. In this study, binderless boards were produced from black heartwood, and the mechanical performance and water resistance were compared to those of normal (red) heartwood. The changes in the main wood components and extractives caused by heat and pressing were also analyzed. The results showed that the mechanical performance and water resistance of black heartwood boards were higher than those of red heartwood boards. The optimal production conditions were 220 °C for 20 min for red and black heartwood, or 240 °C for 10 min for black heartwood. Norlignan analysis revealed that more sequirin-C was lost during the hot- pressing of black heartwood. In the infrared spectra, a peak around 1717 cm<sup>–1</sup> appeared only after the black heartwood samples were hot-pressed. These results indicate that the hydroxy group–rich sequirin-C may have formed new ester bonds with the carboxyl group of hemicellulose during hot-pressing, thereby increasing the internal bonding strength.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00226-025-01718-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145510994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tatsuya Shirai, Wakana Muramatsu, Masato Yoshida, Miyuki Matsuo-Ueda, Yusuf Sudo Hadi, Sri Nugroho Marsoem, Hiroyuki Yamamoto
{"title":"Negative gravitropism of Gnetum gnemon: the effect of the reaction wood and reaction phloem","authors":"Tatsuya Shirai, Wakana Muramatsu, Masato Yoshida, Miyuki Matsuo-Ueda, Yusuf Sudo Hadi, Sri Nugroho Marsoem, Hiroyuki Yamamoto","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01720-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01720-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Gnetum gnemon</i> (Gnetales) is a woody gymnosperm exhibiting morphological characteristics similar to those of woody angiosperms. This study investigated the mechanism underlying negative gravitropism observed in the inclined stems of <i>G. gnemon</i> at two plantation sites on Java Island, Indonesia. The following results were obtained: On the upper side of the inclined stem of <i>G. gnemon</i>, (1) eccentric growth occurred in both the xylem and the phloem; (2) significant tensile growth stresses were generated on the surfaces of the xylem and the inner phloem; and (3) a small microfibril angle (<i>MFA</i>) along with high cellulose crystallinity were observed in both the xylem and the inner phloem. Furthermore, (4) G-fibers developed predominantly on the upper side of the inclined stem, especially in the inner phloem, while no G-fibers were detected in the xylem. From these results, it can be concluded that <i>reaction wood</i> with a small microfibril angle (<i>MFA</i>) and high cellulose crystallinity in the lignified secondary-wall of the xylem fiber, along with <i>reaction phloem</i> containing G-fiber, generate significant tensile growth stresses on the upper side of the inclined stem of <i>G. gnemon</i>. In other words, although <i>G. gnemon</i> is a gymnosperm, it exhibits negative gravitropism through a mechanism not typical of normal gymnosperms but rather similar to that observed in angiosperms.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145456836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Influence of photodegradation on brown-rot fungi decay in Southern pine wood: a cyclical study","authors":"Yujiao Wang, Lingfeng Kong, Yao Peng, Jinzhen Cao","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01721-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01721-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Wood exposed to outdoor environments undergoes cyclical photodegradation and biological decay. This study investigated the alternating effects of accelerated ultraviolet (UV) weathering and brown-rot decay (<i>Gloeophyllum trabeum</i>) on southern pine (<i>Pinus</i> spp.) wood over two exposure cycles, focusing on the morphological, mass loss, porosity, wettability, chemical changes. Results showed that preceding photodegradation significantly impacted subsequent brown-rot degradation, transitioning from acceleration to inhibition in both cycles. This transition occurred earlier in the second cycle, linked to photodegradation-induced structural and chemical changes. Photodegradation increased wood porosity (61.1% in total pore volume, 27.5% in average pore size) and improved the surface wettability, providing fungal invasion pathways and moisture conducive for fungal growth. However, extended weathering accumulated antifungal lignin-derived compounds (e.g., quinones, phenols, aldehydes), inhibiting biodeterioration. Understandings this interaction aids in developing efficient protection strategies for outdoor wood products.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145435849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wangxia Wang, Haoran Wang, Xiuxue Niu, Youhang Wei, Zhaosheng Cai, Bo Jiang, Feng Gu, J. Y. Zhu
{"title":"Tough flame-retardant wood fabrication via lignin reassembly","authors":"Wangxia Wang, Haoran Wang, Xiuxue Niu, Youhang Wei, Zhaosheng Cai, Bo Jiang, Feng Gu, J. Y. Zhu","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01717-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01717-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Wood, a renewable and eco-friendly resource, holds significant potential for developing sustainable structural materials. Nevertheless, in advanced engineering applications, natural wood often fails to meet requirements for mechanical performance and flame retardancy. Herein, we present a novel, simple yet highly effective strategy to fabricate tough flame-retardant wood (TF-wood). This approach involves partial delignification using alcohol-amine-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs), followed by N/P-functionalization of the dissolved lignin that is reincorporated into the wood matrix with subsequent hot-pressing. With the incorporation of 20% functionalized lignin, the resulting TF-wood demonstrates a remarkable increase in tensile strength (425.2 MPa), strain (2.9%), and the corresponding toughness reaching 8.1 MJ/m³, 27 times higher than that of natural wood. Additionally, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) of the TF-wood is reduced by 58.3%, and the total heat release (THR) is decreased by 47.8%. Crucially, TF-wood exhibits an ultralow water migration rate, further enhancing its structural stability in humid environments. These combined properties render TF-wood highly attractive for structural applications requiring enhanced fire safety and durability. This study paves the way for designing sustainable, high-performance building materials that integrate multiple functionalities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"59 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145456601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Japneet Kukal, Lorena A. Portilla, Brian Via, Lucila M. Carias, Maria L. Auad, Manish Sakhakarmy, Sushil Adhikari, Armando G. McDonald
{"title":"Extrusion of biobased novolac composites: flow, curing, and mechanical properties","authors":"Japneet Kukal, Lorena A. Portilla, Brian Via, Lucila M. Carias, Maria L. Auad, Manish Sakhakarmy, Sushil Adhikari, Armando G. McDonald","doi":"10.1007/s00226-025-01719-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00226-025-01719-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Traditional construction is slow, labor-intensive and wasteful. Additive manufacturing (AM) enables faster, automated and efficient buildings with less waste and more design flexibility. This study looked at the possible applications of a biobased novolac (pyrolysis oil / phenol-formaldehyde) resin and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) hardener with either 40 mesh and 100 mesh wood fiber (30%), and extrusion of wood composites. Wood pyrolysis oil was partially substituted (50%) for phenol in the novolac resin preparation to increase its biobased content. The materials were characterized by a combination of thermal analysis, rheology, mechanical, and water absorption properties. The flow characteristics of the uncured resin and composites were determined by dynamic rheometry. The curing behavior of the resin and composites was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The presence of wood decreased the curing enthalpies and increased the curing peak temperature. The wood resin composite blends displayed good pseudoplastic behavior. Composites made with smaller wood particles showed more thermal stability and lower glass transition temperature (T<sub>g</sub>) because of the increased interaction between the fiber and the resin matrix. Extrusion experiments on the wood resin composites successfully produced a continuous rod. The extruded wood resin composite rods were cured (150℃ for 5 min) and showed good flexural properties. The successful extrusion of biobased novolac with wood demonstrates its potential for AM, making it a promising sustainable alternative for construction applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":810,"journal":{"name":"Wood Science and Technology","volume":"59 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00226-025-01719-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145456600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}