Water resistance of Scots pine joints produced by linear friction welding

Abstract: Wood welding is a mechanical friction process allowing the assembly of timber without any adhesives. The process consists of applying mechanical friction, under pressure, alternately to the two wood surfaces to be welded. This process can be applied to weld two flat pieces of timber, originating from the same or different tree species, and can be used in the manufacture of furniture and wood joinery. The only limitation is that the joint is not exterior-grade, but only suitable for interior joints. Exterior use, or use in an environment with varying humidity demands water resistance of the welded joints. The main objective of this thesis is to study the water resistance of the welded wood. This is complemented with special attention to non-destructive test methods such as X-ray Computed Tomography (CT-) scanning and Magnetic Resolution Imaging (MRI). The influence of welding parameters and wood properties on crack formation and crack propagation in the weldline was investigated. The influence of these parameters on weldline density and water absorption in the weldline were also studied. Investigations in this thesis are based on welded samples of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) of the dimensions 200 mm × 20 mm × 40 mm which were cut in the longitudinal direction of the wood grain. The tensile-shear strength of the welded Scots pine samples were determined using European standard EN 205. Different non-destructive methods such as X-ray Computed Tomography (CT-) scanning to study crack formation and propagation, and magnetic Resolution Imaging (MRI) to characterize water penetration and the distribution mechanism in welded wood were used. Solid state CPMAS 13C NMR spectrometry and X-ray microdensitometry investigations were carried out to study the mechanism of adhesion in Scots pine. These various non-destructive methods offer the advantage of non-invasive analysis and the elimination of any artifacts present due to preparation and sectioning. The most important results are summarized asfollows: •X-ray Computed Tomography (CT-) scanning and Magnetic Resolution Imaging (MRI) are versatile research methods applicable to investigations of welded woods. •Water resistance of welded Scots pine can be increased using heartwood, a welding pressure of 1.3 MPa, and a welding time of 1.5 s. •Optimization tests showed that the tensile-shear strength of Scots pine was more sensitive to welding time changes than holding time and could be optimized to more than 9.7 MPa using 1.3 MPa welding pressure, > 3.5 s welding time, and < 60 s holding time. •Changing welding parameters and wood properties can increase water resistance of welded wood to some extent, but treating the weldline with certain natural and environmentally-friendly water repellents is still necessary. •Welded Scots pine shows unusually high water resistance and tensile-shear strength. This may be explained by there being more extractives compounds in Scots pine. •MRI experiments showed that the origin of the joint failure inwelded beech is poor water resistance of the weldline, while swelling and shrinkage of wood are the main reasons for joint failure of welded Scots pine. •Extractives in Scots pine dramatically improve water resistance of the welded joint, but not to a level to classify the joint as an unprotected exterior grade. However, it can qualify as a joint for protected semi-exterior application.