John Simonsen

John Simonsen
Oregon State University | OSU · Department of Wood Science and Engineering

PhD

About

82
Publications
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12,582
Citations
Additional affiliations
August 1990 - present
Oregon State University
Position
  • Professor

Publications

Publications (82)
Article
The thermal stability of nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) dispersed in polysulfone (PSf) was studied to understand the influence of heating rate and CNC concentration using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). While heating rate was found to have a positive influence on the degradation onset temperature and the maximum degradation rate (...
Article
This study investigates the mechanical properties and in vitro cytotoxicity of two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide nanoribbons and nanoplatelets (GONRs and GONPs) reinforced porous polymeric nanocomposites. Highly porous poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing 0.2 wt % single- and multiwalled SONRs (SWGONRs and MWG...
Article
Full-text available
Characterization of organic nanoparticle orientation in a polyurethane foam, which exhibits anisotropic mechanical properties, remains challenging. In article number 1803439, John F. Conley Jr., Pratheep K. Annamalai, and co‐workers briefly demonstrate the application of atomic layer deposition to enhance the contrast of nanocellulose through a coa...
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Full-text available
Analysis of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) at low volume fractions in polymer nanocomposites through conventional electron microscopy still remains a challenge due to insufficient contrast between CNCs and organic polymer matrices. Herein, a methodology for enhancing the contrast of CNC, through atomic layer deposition (ALD) of alumina (Al2O3) on CN...
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Full-text available
Intarsia was an art form popular between the 15th–18th centuries that used wood pigmented by spalting fungi to create detailed landscapes, portraits, and other imagery. These fungi are still used today in art but are also finding relevance in material science as elements of solar cells, textile dyes, and paint colorants. Here we show that the spalt...
Article
Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) Pickering emulsion was prepared and incorporated into chitosan (CH) coatings (CH-PCNC, 0.1% CNC/3% oleic acid/2% CH) for improving hydrophobicity of coatings on Bartlett pears during long-term cold storage (1.7 °C and 90% RH). FTIR analysis of CH-PCNC films stored at both 43% and 83% RH showed no large absorption band at...
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This study evaluated the influence of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) incorporated layer-by-layer water-resistant coating on consumer acceptance of blueberries and cherries processed in light syrup thermally (TP, 97 °C for 7 min) or non-thermally (high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), 414 MPa for 10 min). The coating technique was validated on canned blueberr...
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Full-text available
A new family of materials comprised of cellulose, cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs), having properties and functionalities distinct from molecular cellulose and wood pulp, is being developed for applications that were once thought impossible for cellulosic materials. Commercialization, paralleled by research in this field, is fueled by the unique comb...
Article
Cellulose was isolated from plant material for the first time in 1839 by the French chemist Anselme Payen. In recent years, due to the need in reduce the world’s environmental problems, there has been an increase in studies related to the physical and chemical factors of cellulose. It is important to emphasize that experiments and studies with a ce...
Article
This paper introduces preliminary work on a UV-curable, environmentally benign and degradable elastomer, poly(glycerol sebacate itaconate), or PGSI, for use in soft robotics. A one-pot, solvent-free synthesis route using safe and inexpensive chemical reagents was developed to enable easy adoption into soft robotics labs. Material characterization o...
Article
Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs)-incorporated emulsion coatings with improved moisture barrier, wettability and surface adhesion onto fruit surfaces were developed for controlling postharvest physiological activity and enhancing storability of bananas during ambient storage. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based emulsion coating (CNFC: 0.3% CNF/1% oleic aci...
Article
Fruit pomace (FP) as a source of fiber partially replaced recycled newspaper (NP) to create molded pulp boards (FPBs). Blueberry (BP), cranberry (CP), and apple pomace (AP) with different fiber compositions and morphologies were studied for their compatibility with NP. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was used to improve adhesion between FP and NP. FP/NP...
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This work introduces an environmentally benign and degradable elastomer, poly(glycerol sebacate) with calcium carbonate (PGS-CaCO\(_{3}\)), for use in soft robotics. Development of greener materials like PGS-CaCO\(_{3}\) contributes to robot designs that do not require retrieval and can safely degrade in the natural environment. A simplified synthe...
Article
The recycling of plant wasted materials into useful products represents a green alternative to prevent environmental problems. Tucumã palm fruit (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer) is widely used in Amazon region for food and crafts. Due to the large amount of wasted Tucumã’s endocarp, this work proposes a new approach for extraction of cellulose and its...
Article
Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC, 0%, 5%, and 10% w/w, in chitosan, dry basis) reinforced 2% chitosan aqueous coatings were evaluated for delaying the ripening and quality deterioration of postharvest green D'Anjou (Pyrus communis L.) and Bartlett (Pyrus communis L.) pears during 3 wk of ambient storage (20 ± 2 °C and 30 ± 2% RH) or 5 mo of cold storage...
Article
The microstructure of highly porous cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogels is investigated via transmission electron microscope (TEM) tomography. The aerogels were fabricated by first supercritically drying a carboxylated CNC organogel and then coating via atomic layer deposition with a thin conformal layer of Al2O3 to protect the CNCs against prolon...
Article
Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) are a new class of cellulose particles with properties and functionalities distinct from molecular cellulose and wood pulp, and as a result, they are being developed for applications that were once thought impossible for cellulosic materials. Momentum is growing in CN research and development, and commercialization in...
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Full-text available
This work reinforced both a glassy polymer (high stiffness matrix) and a rubbery polymer (low stiffness matrix) with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) derived from natural sources. CNC addition always increased stiffness while it increased toughness for a rubbery polymer and caused no loss in toughness for a glassy polymer. These results contradict many...
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Cellulose is an abundant and renewable resource currently being investigated for utility in nanomaterial form for various promising applications ranging from medical and pharmaceutical uses to mechanical reinforcement and biofuels. The utility of nanocellulose and wide implementation ensures increasing exposure to humans and the environment as nano...
Article
This study was aimed to systematically develop and validate cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based hydrophobic coatings (Innofresh™) for reducing cherry rain-cracking through a lab-scale optimization study and the preliminary field validation trials. The base coating formulation consist of 0.5% CNF (w/w) and 0.5% potassium sorbate (KSb) (w/w). For optimiz...
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This study investigates the mechanical properties and in vitro cytotoxicity of one- and two-dimensional boron nitride nanomaterials-reinforced biodegradable polymeric nanocomposites. Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) nanocomposites were fabricated using crosslinking agent N-vinyl pyrrolidone and inorganic nanomaterials: boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs)...
Article
Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), prepared by acidic hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), was oxidized with the TEMPO–NaBr–NaOCl system and subjected to ultrasonic treatment. Carboxylated NCC (C.NCC) having high carboxylate content (%) was thereby produced directly. Modified NCC was then incorporated into gliadin matrices and the effect o...
Article
This study investigated the mechanisms of anthocyanin pigment retention using Fe3+-anthocyanin complexation and cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/sodium alginate (SA) layer-by-layer (LBL) coatings on thermally processed blueberries in aqueous media. Anthocyanin pigments were polymerized through complexation with Fe3+, but readily degraded by heat (93 °C fo...
Article
The non-biodegradable and non-renewable nature of plastic packaging has led to increasing interest in packaging materials based on bio-nanocomposites (biopolymer matrix reinforced with nanofillers). One such material is wheat gluten and its components. In this study we investigated nanocomposite materials prepared by casting a mixture of extracted...
Article
Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogels are coated with thin conformal layers of Al2O3 using atomic layer deposition to form hybrid organic/inorganic nanocomposites. Electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated the Al2O3 penetrated more than 1500 μm into the aerogel for extended precursor pulse and exposure/purge ti...
Article
Bio-based polymers and biocomposites are a relatively new and growing market in light of recent societal concerns including dwindling petroleum reserves, environmental and end-of-live disposal issues. Developing sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to current packaging films, such as polyethylene is neither easy nor simple. We repo...
Article
The aim of this investigation was the optimization of preparing gluten film containing cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). An optimization procedure using central composite design (CCD) with three factors (CNF, glycerol, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentrations) was used in order to investigate the effect of these parameters on the mechanical (tens...
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Full-text available
A highly reversible anode is indispensable to the future success of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) derived from cellulose nanofibers are investigated as an anode material for SIBs. The CNFs exhibit very promising electrochemical properties, including a high reversible capacity (255 mA h g−1 at 40 mA g−1), good rate ca...
Article
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have received considerable attention recently because CNCs can be produced from renewable materials such as straw, wood, cotton, and sea animals (tunicates). CNCs are one of the stiffest organic materials, with an estimated tensile modulus (E) of 80–160 GPa depending on the starting material. In addition, composites in...
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Full-text available
The ultimate properties of a fibrous composite system depend highly on the transverse mechanical properties of the fibers. Here, we report the size dependency of transverse elastic modulus in cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). In addition, the mechanical properties of CNCs prepared from wood and cotton resources were investigated. Nanoindentation in an...
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In spite of extensive studies on the preparation and characterization of nanocomposite materials, the correlation of their properties at the nanoscale with those in bulk is a relatively unexplored area. This is of great importance, especially for materials with potential biomedical applications, where surface properties are as important in determin...
Article
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used to coat cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogel scaffolds with a thin conformal layer of Al2O3. Electron probe microanalysis indicates that the penetration of Al2O3 into the aerogel was greater than 50 μm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that Al2O3 coated CNC aerogel composites have improved temperature and...
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Full-text available
This critical review provides a processing-structure-property perspective on recent advances in cellulose nanoparticles and composites produced from them. It summarizes cellulose nanoparticles in terms of particle morphology, crystal structure, and properties. Also described are the self-assembly and rheological properties of cellulose nanoparticle...
Article
Biocomposite boards from red wine grape pomace (WGP; Pinot Noir) or white WGP (Morio Muscat) were investigated on the basis of crosslinking and thermal compression mechanisms. We used an orthogonal experimental design to optimize the formulations by examining the effects of binder type, pomace-to-binder (P/B) ratio, and hydrophobic and crosslinking...
Article
Effect of heating rate, Pd content, and synthesis method on the thermal stability of the ex situ and in situ Palladium/polycarbonate (Pd/PC) nanocomposites was investigated. TEM images revealed discrete Pd nanoclusters of about 5 and 15 nm sizes for 1 and 2 vol % ex situ nanocomposites, respectively. However, agglomerated Pd nanoclusters were notic...
Article
In this study, we investigated the feasibility of creating biocomposite boards from berry fruit pomaces on the basis of a crosslinking mechanism. Blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape pomaces were ground, dried, and mixed with soy flour (SF) or pectin and xanthan gum mixture at a ratio of 1 : 1 and with the addition of 15% glycerol (w/w of pomace an...
Article
Full-text available
This paper provides an overview of recent progress made in the area of cellulose nanofibre-based nanocomposites. An introduction into the methods used to isolate cellulose nanofibres (nanowhiskers, nanofibrils) is given, with details of their structure. Following this, the article is split into sections dealing with processing and characterisation...
Chapter
IntroductionBackground on CNXL Material SciencePolymer Nanocomposite SystemsThermal PropertiesMechanical PropertiesTransport PropertiesReferences
Article
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNXLs) have drawn attention from researchers for their remarkable reinforcing abilities and excellent mechanical properties. CNXLs typically have high aspect ratios of around 20-50 (length/width), low density of around 1.6 g/cc, high stiffness (135 to 155 GPa), and strength (estimated at 7500 MPa). Here we utilize CNXLs in a...
Article
The leaching of toxins from treated wood poses an, as yet, poorly quantified risk to both plant and animal life. In particular, the leaching of pentachlorophenol (PCP) into rainwater falling on treated wood over aquatic environments, such as bridges, is understudied. Computer models have been developed which predict the leaching of creosote from ma...
Article
In this study, barrier membranes were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) with different amounts of cellulose nanocrystals (CNXLs) as filler. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was used as a crosslinking agent to provide water resistance to PVOH. The membranes were heat treated at various temperatures to optimize the crosslinking density. Heat treatment...
Article
Microchannel devices hold the potential to transform many separation processes. This preliminary study investigated the feasibility of incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNXLs) into polysulfone, a commonly used ultrafiltration membrane polymer. Incorporating CNXLs into non-water soluble polymers without aggregation has been problematic. A solven...
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Full-text available
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are typically composed of wood particles, thermoplastic polymers and small amounts of additives. Further improvement of WPC technology requires a better understanding of their mechanical performance and durability on the micro level. X-ray computed tomography (CT) and advanced imaging techniques can provide visualizat...
Article
A number of grass straw-polyethylene composites were fabricated using Oregon rye grass (Lolium spp.) straw, high density polyethylene, and a number of compatibilizers: poly(diphenylmethane diisocyanate), maleic anhydride-modified polyethylene, stearic acid, and combinations of them. Grass straw-polyethylene composites with one of the previously men...
Article
High density polyethylene (HDPE) is a ubiquitous material with versatile properties. It is produced and used in greater volume than any other thermoplastic. HDPE is often filled with a variety of materials for various applications. Glass fiber and wood flour are two common fillers for HDPE. This study investigated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) a...
Chapter
Microchannel devices are a rapidly evolving process technology with a wide variety of applications. One of these is separation processes such as kidney dialysis, which promises to significantly improve treatment and patient lifestyle. Current membranes for dialysis are hollow fiber membranes typically using polysulfone (PSf). However, this geometry...
Article
Polymer nanocomposites are one of the important application areas for nanotechnology. Naturally derived organic nanophase materials are of special interest in the case of polymer nanocomposites. Carboxymethyl cellulose is a polyelectrolyte derived from natural materials. It has been extensively studied as a hydrogel polymer. Methods to modify the m...
Article
Full-text available
The combination of a polyaminoamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin (a paper wet strength agent) and stearic anhydride was recently reported as an effective compatibilizer system for wood-polyethylene composites. Further investigation of this new compatibilizer system revealed that the pH value of a PAE solution, dosages of PAE and stearic anhydride, a...
Article
Isocyanate-terminated polyethylenes (PE), PE-MDI and PE-PMDI, were synthesized by reacting polyethylene monoalcohol (PEA) with 4,4′-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI), respectively. Effects of PEA, PE–MDI, and PE–PMDI on the mechanical properties and water resistance of wood–PE composites were...
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Full-text available
One potential advantage of nanotechnology is the ability to engineer bottom-up hierarchical assembly of nanoparticles into functional macroscale materials and devices. The most promising mechanism for accomplishing this is self-assembly. In this project, an advanced strategy was developed to design and manufacture novel hierarchical nanomaterials f...
Article
Full-text available
Creosote has a long history of successful use as a wood preservative, but polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in this preservative have raised environmental concerns, particularly when creosote-treated wood is used in aquatic environments. A number of models have been developed to predict the risk of creosote use in aquatic environments, but one limit...
Article
Full-text available
A commercially viable compatibilizer system containing poly(diphenylmethane diisocyanate) (PMDI) and stearic acid was developed for improving the interfacial adhesion between wood and polyethylene (PE). The treatment of PE with PMDI before mixing with wood increased both the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the result...
Article
This preliminary study examined the relationship of interfacial shear strength (IFSS) to modulus of rupture (MOR) for several different wood–plastic composites (WPCs). Plastics utilized were high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP). Pine and oak were used as the wood species. Compatibilizers used included maleic-anhydride-grafted pol...
Article
Full-text available
A combination of poly(diphenylmethane diisocyanate) (PMDI) and stearic anhydride was investigated as a new compatibilizer system for improving the interfacial adhesion between wood and polyethylene (PE). The treatment of wood flour with PMDI increased both the modulus-of-rupture (MOR) and the modulus-of-elasticity (MOE) of the resulting wood–PE com...
Article
Hydrogel polymers are a novel class of hydrophilic materials that have large application areas in both the industrial and medical fields. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has received attention as a hydrogel polymer. Methods to modify the mechanical properties of gels and films made from CMC are of interest in our lab and in the commercial marketplace...
Article
The wood composites industry is a major manufacturing sector in the United States. Increasing concerns about emissive formaldehyde to human health and our heavy dependence on petroleum and natural gas promote the need for a formaldehyde-free wood adhesive from renewable resources. Marine mussel adhesive protein is an excellent example of a formalde...
Article
Full-text available
A novel wood–plastic compatibilizer system containing a paper wet-strength agent as a wood-binding domain and stearic anhydride as a polyethylene (PE) binding domain was investigated. Treatment of wood flour with a commercial paper wet-strength agent Kymene® 557H (simply called Kymene) before the mixing of PE and the wood flour increased the modulu...
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The effect of wood/plastic ratio and the presence of a boron compound on resistance to biodegradation of wood plastic composites (WPC's) by the brown rot fun-gus Gloeophyllum trabeum was investigated in a soil block exposure. Weight losses of all WPC's were gen-erally lower than those of solid wood, even when only the wood component of the WPC was...
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Wood products with antielectrostatic properties have wide applications in many fields. However, wood is an insulator and does not itself have antielectrostatic ability. This study investigated several ionic liquids as antielectrostatic agents for wood. Ionic liquids are liquids at room temperature (or close to room temperature), possess no vapor pr...
Article
N-vinylformamide-grafted polypropylene (VFPP) was successfully synthesized through a free radical grafting reaction. Both polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) and VFPP were effective compatibilizers for increasing both the strength and stiffness of the resulting wood–PP (polypropylene) composites. Both the modulus of rupture (MOR) and t...
Article
This study investigated the effect of extractives in wood flour on the mechanical properties of wood-polypropylene (PP) composites. Three different solvents, acetone/water, dioxane/water and benzene/ethanol, were used to remove extractives in both pine and Douglas fir wood flour. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that extraction resu...
Article
The reaction of boric acid with wood fibers in a polymer melt was examined using 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 11B-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and component extraction and by the determination of material properties. Samples were blended at 350and 380°F in a roll mill. The use of a plasticizer in the...
Article
Poly(N-acryloyl dopamine) (PAD) was successfully synthesized through free-radical homopolymerization of N-acryloyl-O,O′-diphenylmethyldopamine and subsequent deprotection. The adhesive ability of PAD to wood was studied in detail. PAD underwent substantial oxidation and crosslinking reactions at about 80°C. Therefore, maple veneer samples bonded wi...
Article
Creep, the deformation over time of a material under stress, is one characteristic of wood-filled polymer composites that has resulted in poor performance in certain applications. This project was undertaken to investigate the advantages of blending a plastic of lower-creep polystyrene (PS) with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at ratios of 100:0,...
Article
How does the molecular weight of a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) dispersant affect the dispersibility of pulp slurries was experimentally studied. Four CMC products, all with different average molecular weights: 90,000, 250,000, 700,000, and 800,000 was used in the experiment. The pulp was a bleached kraft softwood pulp and the slurry was composed o...
Article
Recycled plastics, predominantly high-density polyethylene (PE), are being processed in the shape of dimension lumber and marketed as “plastic lumber.” One drawback to these products is their low creep resistance or high creep speed. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of reducing the creep speed of PE-based products by blend...
Article
The influence of secondary interactions on the development of interfacial structure in composites of wood and amorphous thermoplastic polymers is not well understood. This study used inverse gas chromatography to investigate the effect of different polymers on the surface energy of partially or fully coated white pine wood meal. In this way, the de...
Article
Styrene–maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers containing either 7 or 14% maleic anhydride were filled with either pine flour or dry-process aspen fiber from a medium density fiberboard (MDF) plant. Material properties of the filled and unfilled SMA plastics were compared with those of aspen-fiber-filled and unfilled polystyrene (PS). The fiber-filled S...
Article
While many polymers which are polymerized in situ impart desirable properties to the final composite, they do not react with the cell wall, and their dimensional stability is therefor poor. In an attempt to overcome this deficiency, we studied the combination of polyglycols cross linked with dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) in ponderosa p...
Article
Full-text available
Recycled newsprint (ONP) and dry process aspen fiber were combined with styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers containing either 7 or 14 percent maleic anhydride. The fiber-filled SMA composites were equivalent or superior to unfilled SMA in strength, stiffness, and notched Izod impact strength. ONP performed surprisingly well as a filler. Unnot...
Article
The rule of mixtures was used as the basis for the development of a simple mathematical model that allows comparison of the efficiency of stiffness reinforcement by fillers in a filled plastic composite. Based on an estimate for the stiffness of the wood fiber, a reinforcement efficiency factor is deduced from experimental data on filled polymer co...
Article
Alkali-soluble styrene-maleic anhydride copalymers (SMA) were found to be good sizing agents on unbleoched Douglas-fir kraft pulp and unbleoched thermomechanical pulp(TMP) when used with ferrous chloride or alum as mordants. Three SMAs with different molecular weights and maleic anhydride contents were tested as internal sizing agents for both blea...
Article
The properties of the interphase in wood-polymer composites are important determinants of the properties of the final composite. This study used inverse gas chromatography (IGC) to measure interphasal properties of composites of polystyrene and two types of wood fiber fillers and an inorganic substrate (CW) with varying amounts of surface coverage...
Article
A recent addition to the list of composite building materials is plastic lumber. While utilizing recycled plastics as building materials promotes recycling, plastic lumber itself is a poor replacement for solid wood. Research is underway to improve the mechanical properties of wood/polymer composites. This report investigates the use of Willamette...
Article
Material properties of composites produced from recycled plastics and recycled wood fiber were compared. A blend of high-density polyethylene and polystyrene was used as a simulated mixed plastic. Stiffness was generally improved by the addition of fiber, as expected, but brittleness also increased. Pretreatment of the wood filler with phenol-forma...
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Full-text available
Research is needed to address concerns about the potential environmental impacts of preserva­ tive-treated wood used for construction projects in sensitive environments. This report describes re-cent studies in this area conducted by the Forest Product Laboratory or its collaborators. The leach­ ing and environmental impact of a wetland board-walk...
Article
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Colorado, 1975. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [59]-60). Typescript.

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