George I. Mantanis

University of Thessaly | UTH · Dept. of Forestry Wood Sciences and Design

The objective of the work was to evaluate the efficacy of two new polyphosphate-based fire retardants (FRs) and one commercial product named Siriono® on the fire performance and physical-mechanical properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF) fabricated in the laboratory from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood. The fibres were treated with aque...

Furfurylated wood has been used widely for exterior purposes due to its superior dimensional stability and biological durability, though its fire resistance is not enhanced. Here, the introduction of the fire-retardant additive guanyl-urea phosphate (GUP) into furfurylated wood is reported. The treatment improved both the thermal and fire stabiliti...

Guanyl-urea phosphate (GUP) was introduced into furfurylated wood in order to improve fire retardancy. Modified wood was produced via vacuum-pressure impregnation of the GUP–furfuryl alcohol (FA) aqueous solution, which was then polymerized at elevated temperature. The water leaching resistance of the treated wood was tested according to European s...

Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aluminium hydroxide and borates, separately or combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP), upon the technological and fire properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF). Fire resistant MDF was fabricated in the laboratory from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) fibres bonded with a high molar ratio mela...

The objective of the work was to improve the leaching resistance of fire-retardant (FR) modified wood by the incorporation of a thermoset resin. Here, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood was impregnated with melamine form-aldehyde (MF) resin and hydrophilic FRs guanyl-urea phosphate/ boric acid by a vacuum-pressure treatment. Resistance to lea...

The requirement for alternative raw materials for fuel pellets that would enable the use of readily available low-cost renewable resources and waste materials, such as bark, has always attracted interest. The aim of the current work was to assess the effect of black pine (Pinus nigra L.) bark content (0%–100%) as well as densification temperature o...

Fire-retardant (FR) treated wood-based panels, used commonly in furniture and construction, need to meet stringent fire safety regulations. This study presents a novel treatment for imparting fire resistance to wood composites by applying separate solutions of phytic acid and sodium silicate onto wood particles before the hot pressing at 160 °C. A...

The exterior application of fire-retardant (FR) timber necessitates it to have high durability because of the possibility to be exposed to rainfall. In this study, water-leaching resistance of FR wood has been imparted by grafting phosphate and carbamate groups of the water-soluble FR additives ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP)/urea onto the hydr...

The purpose of the work was to assess the combined effect of furfurylation, along with the addition of silver nanoparticles (NPsAg), on the thermal stability, density, water absorption, hardness and biological durability of juvenile tropical woods originating from Costa Rican forest plantations. It was demonstrated that the weight percentage gain (...

In this study, the wood–water interactions in Scots pine sapwood modified with maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium hypophosphite (SHP) was studied in the water-saturated state. The water in wood was studied with low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LFNMR) and the hydrophilicity of cell walls was studied by infrared spectroscopy after deuteration usin...

Wood has the ability to absorb and desorb moisture, which can affect its dimensional size when in use. Limiting this can provide products with greater shape stability and less stresses on external coatings. One method that has been investigated for achieving this has been through chemical modification. In this work, the dimensional stabilisation im...

This work focused on the upgrading of non-durable tropical wood species originating from fast-growing plantations of Costa Rica. Modification of such tropical woods with furfuryl alcohol, although has not been broadly studied up to date, offers a potential way to increase their low durability. The purpose of this research was to investigate the mod...

The potential of producing eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free, high-density fiberboard (HDF) panels from hardwood fibers bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin and a novel ammonium lignosulfonate (ALS) is investigated in this paper. HDF panels were fabricated in the laboratory by applying a very low UF gluing factor (3%) and ALS content varying from...

In this research, acetylated wood (Accoya) was tested in ground contact in central Greece. After ten years of exposure during a ground stake test, acetylated pine wood (Pinus radiata) stakes, with a 20% acetyl weight gain, were completely intact and showed no visual decay (decay rating: 0). However, the key mechanical properties of Accoya wood, tha...

Acetylation of softwoods has been largely investigated to increase the dimensional stability and biological resistance of wood. However, the knowledge of this technology has not been applied to tropical hardwood species up to date. The objective of this work was to study the effect of acetylation on nine tropical hardwood species, from forest plant...

The potential of producing ecofriendly composites from industrial waste fibres, bonded with magnesium lignosulfonate, a lignin-based formaldehyde-free adhesive, was investigated in this work. Composites were produced in the laboratory using the following parameters: a hot press temperature of 210 • C, a pressing time of 16 min, and a 15% gluing con...

The improving effects of addition of nano‐wollastonite on some fire properties of medium‐density fiberboard (MDF) were studied in this work. Nano‐wollastonite was added at four levels (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%). The size range of at least 70% of nano‐wollastonite particles were 30 to 110 nm. The results showed statistically significant improving effect o...

The potential of addition of calcium lignosulfonate as an eco-friendly additive with a phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin, at different ratios, to produce medium-density fibreboards (MDF) with acceptable properties, was investigated in this work. The fibreboards were fabricated in the laboratory with low PF resin percentage (3%, 4%, 5%), while the addi...

Wood is a natural renewable material with unique properties helping mankind to build and develop its communities since the genesis of human on the Earth. Moreover, wood/cellulosic composites provide the opportunity to utilize low-density wood species and agricultural materials that are basically not suitable for structural applications; they also p...

This work aimed at finding ways to improve the leaching resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood impregnated with water soluble fire retardant (FR). Sapwood specimens of Scots pine (10 × 10 × 50 mm) were impregnated with aqueous solution of guanyl-urea phosphate (GUP)/boric acid (BA). Limiting oxygen index (LOI) revealed that treatment c...

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood impregnated with guanyl-urea phosphate/boric acid and a melamine-formaldehyde resin exhibited considerably increased resistance to leaching, while sustaining superior fire retardancy as tested by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) method. It was found that guanyl-urea phosphate has been well trapped in the wood st...

Due to the growing environmental concern, lignocellulosic materials have become a common substitute for the con-ventional reinforcement element in composite strcutures. However, these natural sources are preferred to cost effici-ent and to increase mechanical performances. In a cement bonded composites, wood is incorporated as an aggregate in the m...

The market for new durable products of modified wood has increased substantially during the last few years, especially in Europe. This increased interest depends partly on the restricted use of toxic preservatives due to increased environmental concern, as well as the need for reduced maintenance for wood products that are mainly for exterior use....

In this work, the adhesive systems used today in the European industries of particleboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF), and oriented strand board (OSB) are discussed. The structure of particleboard, MDF and OSB markets in Europe in relation to the types of adhesives and product specifications are presented as well. It is noticeable that new mar...

This study identified the wood species and evaluated the degree of weathering and biological degradation of a historical timber construction element originating from the Great Metéoron monastery in Metéora, Greece. The wood material was provided from the interior side of a balcony that was fully covered with a roof and exposed to outdoor conditions...

The field of wood protection is currently changing due to the restrictions imposed by the Biocidal Products Regulation. The need for development of new wood protection technologies is therefore growing. In this work, the resistance of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) wood impregnated with nano-dispersions of zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) and zinc borate...

In this work, the biological resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood impregnated with nanosized zinc oxide and zinc borate against the fungi Poria placenta and Serpula lacrymans was evaluated. It can be concluded that nano-sized zinc oxide inhibited the biological degradation of pine wood against Serpula lacrymans, while it was ineffect...

In this work, the effects of the impregnation with nano-ZnO and nano-ZnB dispersions on the termite resistance of European beech wood were investigated. Three different concentrations (namely 0.5%, 1% and 2%) of the above two materials were tested. Water leaching effect was also investigated. It was concluded that a severe effect in terms of termit...

In this work, the colour changes of pine and fir wood treated with several nano‐compounds were investigated. Surface treatments with titanium‐ and zinc‐ oxide based nanocompounds clearly retarded lightness reduction to a certain extent in both pine and fir wood tested. The maximum lightness improvement was obtained with the nano‐compound B (titaniu...

Furfurylation is a modifi cation process carried out in order to improve the biological resistance and dimensional stability of wood. In this research work, a three-year outdoor weathering test of furfurylated wood was performed using the following wood materials: a deck of furfurylated radiata pine (Pinus radiata), a deck of furfurylated maple (Ac...

This work aimed at evaluating the indoor concentrations of formaldehyde in twenty five new apartments in the city of Drama, Northern Greece. By means of a formaldehyde meter, two series of measurements were made in September 2009 and September 2010. Early morning measurements were made in the living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen rooms and child rooms. I...

In this work, the brown rot resistance of black pine (Pinus nigra L.) wood, pressure-treated in an autoclave with nano-sized zinc borate and zinc oxide dispersions, was investigated. The two formulations based on zinc borate have given encouraging results, indicating fungicide effects of the metal nanoparticles on Coniophora puteana. In specific, m...

This work reports on the properties of beech wood, one of the most important hardwood species, harvested in the Greek public forests. The physical and mechanical properties of two beech species, namely Fagus sylvatica L. and Fagus Orientalis Lipsky, were investigated on samples originating from four different natural forests located in the central,...

This study assessed the decay resistance of Pinus leucodermis wood to the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana. Based upon the median weight losses of 30.65% for heartwood and of 34.68% for sapwood obtained in the biological tests, both the heartwood and sapwood material examined was classified as not durable (durability class 5) according to the CE...

Γεωτεχνικά Επιστημονικά Θέματα 38: 12-19

The dimensional stabilisation of wood is important for a number of reasons, but particularly in product stability and the reduction of stress on applied coatings. This is essential in obtaining high performance products such as window frames. Whilst significant inroads have been made with chemical and thermal modification processes, methods combini...

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the wood of P. heldreichii, collected from north Greece area was determined by GC and GC/MS for the first time. Forty constituents (corresponding to 96.3% of the total weight) were identified. The main components were: limonene, cembrene, longifolene, α-pinene, methyl...

In this study, the water vapour sorption of Belmadur wood is fully investigated. The sorption isotherms were analysed using the Hailwood-Horrobin model. Belmadur wood was shown lower total sorption by 26.5%, polymolecular sorption by 23.9% and monomolecular sorption by 33.1% at saturation, compared with the untreated wood. Regression analysis of th...

This work reports on the colour changes in wood surfaces, namely from the species European pine, fir, Bosnian pine, chestnut and cherry, which have been modified by a new nanoparticulate treatment. Colour values (CIE L*, a*, b*) for both control and treated wood samples have been studied for each of the five different species. The results have show...

Untreated and nano-based compound treated chestnut, wild cherry, fir, and black pine wood samples were immersed in water at four different temperature levels. It was found that the nano-based compound was a very effective agent for lowering both the initial and maximum equilibrium transverse swelling of wood. However, the latter were found to have...

The potential of improving the hygroscopicity of solid wood by applying a new nanotechnology compound was investigated. The sorption isotherms were analysed using the Hailwood–Horrobin model. The experimental analysis of the sorption isotherms showed that the treatment affected total, polymolecular and monomolecular sorption. The application of the...

The potential of improving the thickness swelling of commercial wood based panels by applying a new nanotechnology compound was investigated. The application of the compound SurfaPore™ W, an aqueous wood-water repellent resulted in a significant improvement in the thickness swelling of the panels tested.

The present work reports on the main physical and mechanical properties of Pinus leucodermis mature wood, one of the least studied coniferous species in south-east Europe. Pinus leucodermis heartwood specimens were found to have average density values of 0.73 g cm−3 at equilibrium moisture content of 11.5% and average density of 0.64 g cm−3 under o...

This research work presents a study on the finger jointing of green Black pine wood (Pinus nigra L.) using a phenol resorcinol formaldehyde adhesive. The effect of finger joint orientation (vertical or horizontal fingers) was also examined. In general, the results from the measurements of modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of green glued...

The aim of this work was to determine the main physical and mechanical properties of athel wood (Tamarix aphylla), one of the least studied non-commercial wood species. Wood samples of Tamarix aphylla were collected from a small tree stand in Molyvos coastal area (Lesvos, Greece) and standard test methods were followed on small green specimens. Ath...

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να εξετάσει τη δυνατότητα χρήσης του σκευάσματος νανοτεχνολογίας SurfaPore για τη βελτίωση της διαστασιακής σταθερότητας τριών τύπων ξυλοπλακών. Η εφαρμογή του σκευάσματος είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα τη βελτίωση της κατά πάχος διόγκωσης, μετά από 24 ώρες εμβάπτιση (διόγκωση) σε νερό. Επιπρόσθετα, η βελτίωση αυτή αποδείχτη...

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να εξετάσει τη δυνατότητα χρήσης του σκευάσματος νανοτεχνολογίας SurfaPore για τη βελτίωση της διαστασιακής σταθερότητας τριών τύπων ξυλοπλακών. Η εφαρμογή του σκευάσματος είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα τη βελτίωση της κατά πάχος διόγκωσης, μετά από 24 ώρες εμβάπτιση (διόγκωση) σε νερό. Επιπρόσθετα, η βελτίωση αυτή αποδείχτη...

This research work presents a study on the properties of finger jointing green oak wood (Quercus conferta L.) using a one-component polyurethane adhesive. The effect of finger-joint orientation (vertical or horizontal fingers) was also examined. In general, the results from the measurements of modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of green-g...

This work aimed at evaluating the indoor concentrations of formaldehyde in thirty new apartments in Karditsa, Greece. By using a formaldehyde meter, two series of measurements were made in July 2006 and January 2007. Early morning measurements were made in the living rooms and bedrooms as well as in the kitchen and bedroom cabinets. Initial measure...

Σκοπός της παρούσας ερευνητικής εργασίας ήταν η διερεύνηση των δυνατοτήτων παραγωγής επικολλητής κατά μήκος ξυλείας με δακτυλοειδείς συνδέσεις (finger-joints) με καλές ιδιότητες για κάλυψη των αναγκών της ελληνικής επιπλοποιίας. Χρησιμοποιήθηκε σ’ αυτή την εργασία μια νέα μέθοδος παραγωγής επικολλητής ξυλείας δρυός, στην οποία το ξύλο μορφοποιείται...

Σκοπός της παρούσας ερευνητικής εργασίας ήταν η διερεύνηση των δυνατοτήτων παραγωγής επικολλητής κατά μήκος ξυλείας με δακτυλοειδείς συνδέσεις (finger-joints) με καλές ιδιότητες για κάλυψη των αναγκών της ελληνικής επιπλοποιίας. Χρησιμοποιήθηκε σ’ αυτή την εργασία μια νέα μέθοδος παραγωγής επικολλητής ξυλείας δρυός, στην οποία το ξύλο μορφοποιείται...

Η ανάλυση της υφιστάµενης κατάστασης διεθνώς, ενός νέου σχετικά προϊόντος ξύλου, του OSB, αλλά και οι προοπτικές ανάπτυξής του στην Ελλάδα, αποτελούν το αντικείµενο της παρούσης εργασίας. Από τη διεξαγωγή δευτερογενούς έρευνας, προέκυψε ότι η ανάπτυξη του OSB στην παγκόσµια αγορά γίνεται µε πολύ µεγάλο ρυθµό. Οι ΗΠΑ και ο Καναδάς κατέχουν το µεγαλύ...

Η ανάλυση της υφιστάμενης κατάστασης διεθνώς, ενός νέου προϊόντος ξύλου, του OSB, αλλά και οι προοπτικές ανάπτυξής του στην Ελλάδα, αποτελούν το αντικείµενο της παρούσης εργασίας. Από τη διεξαγωγή δευτερογενούς έρευνας, προέκυψε ότι η ανάπτυξη του OSB στην παγκόσµια αγορά γίνεται µε πολύ µεγάλο ρυθµό. Οι ΗΠΑ και ο Καναδάς κατέχουν το µεγαλύτερο µερ...

Research efforts enabled the development of a new process for the recycling of end-use wood panels into new marketable fiberboards. This patent-pending process is based on refiner techniques and allows the use of mixtures of fresh wood and waste panel chips as a raw material for dry-process fiberboard produc-tion. The process is applicable in exist...

Αντικειµενικός σκοπός αυτής της εργασίας είναι να εντοπιστούν και να αξιολογηθούν τα επίπεδα θορύβου στα οποία εκτίθενται καθηµερινά οι εργαζόµενοι στις µονάδες κατεργασίας ξύλου και παραγωγής επίπλου. Προκειµένου να µελετηθούν και να συγκριθούν οι εντάσεις του θορύβου έγιναν µετρήσεις στους χώρους των βιοµηχανιών αυτών. Από τα αποτελέσµατα προκύπτ...

Η κατανάλωση ινοπλάκας µέσης πυκνότητας (MDF) τόσο σε παγκόσµιο, όσο και σε ελληνικό επίπεδο αυξάνεται µε εκπληκτικούς ρυθµούς τα τελευταία έτη. Η χρήση του MDF αγκαλιάζει πλέον όλους τους κλάδους, από την επιπλοποιία µέχρι τις δοµικές κατασκευές, χάρη στην οµοιοµορφία της πυκνότητάς του αλλά και των πολύ καλών ιδιοτήτων που παρουσιάζει. Επίσης, η...

Η κατανάλωση ινοπλάκας µέσης πυκνότητας (MDF) τόσο σε παγκόσµιο, όσο και σε ελληνικό επίπεδο αυξάνεται µε εκπληκτικούς ρυθµούς τα τελευταία έτη. Η χρήση του MDF αγκαλιάζει πλέον όλους τους κλάδους, από την επιπλοποιία µέχρι τις δοµικές κατασκευές, χάρη στην οµοιοµορφία της πυκνότητάς του αλλά και των πολύ καλών ιδιοτήτων που παρουσιάζει. Επίσης, η...

The conventional strawboard technology employing MDI binders has shown technical and economical disadvantages, specifically, high resin costs and additional costs related to release agents required to avoid sticking of panels to press plates. The adhesion of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin to the straw fiber has been demonstrated in a previous researc...

A new environmentally friendly technology for turning agricultural residues like straw into quality value-added composite products using conventional formaldehyde-based resins has been developed, and currently being scaled-up, within the framework of an EU funded project. The new technology highly favours environmental protection and sustainable de...

Στη συνθετική αυτή εργασία παρουσιάζονται και συζητιούνται οι σπουδαιότερες μεταβολές που λαμβάνουν χώρα στο ξύλο κατά τη θερμική αποικοδόμησή του. Οι μεταβολές αυτές είναι ποικίλες και είναι δυνατόν να σχετίζονται με : α) τις επιδράσεις της θερμοκρασίας, β) τις θερμικές αντιδράσεις που λαμβάνουν χώρα στο ξύλο, γ) τις μεταβολές στη δομή του ξύλου,...