Highly Mechanical Performance of Laminated Veneer Lumber Induced by High Voltage Electrostatic Field

Abstract

The high voltage electrostatic field (HVEF), as a novel technology, was applied in the study to obtain a highly mechanical performance of LVL (laminated veneer lumber) by increasing limiting value of shear failure strength directly affected by bonding strength. The surface property of wood, polymerization extent of PF, bonding interface of wood-to-PF and mechanical properties of LVL were investigated under the HVEF treatment. The results showed that increased free radicals and total surface energy were acquired under the HVEF treatment resulting from more polar groups (?OH, ?CHO) and ions were triggered leading to decreased contact angles identified both for Poplar and Masson specimens. The HVEF provided more reactions among wood-to-UF and more cross linking reaction of PF occurred in the treating step. The tendency of vertical density profile was more extremely steep than the control with max density increased by 24.93% and 30.24% for Poplar and Masson LVL respectively since adhesive aggregated continuously and orderly along bonding interface and permeation depth reduced to around 200 ?m, accounting for improved bonding shear strength, which eventually brought an enhancement on mechanical properties of LVL with horizon shear strength (?and?), modulus of elasticity and static bending strength significantly enhanced by 14.65%, 10.68%, 20.67% and 12.34% for Poplar LVL and that of Masson LVL enhanced by 17.30%, 13.93%, 18.55% and 12.72%. Besides, the delamination ratio was decreased by 49.57% and 58.32% respectively both for Poplar and Masson specimens.