Fingerjoints and woodlam GST (Glued Laminated Timber) were prepared with beech wood on industrial scale with a cold-set honeymoon type adhesive comprising 65% of natural material, namely condensed flavonoid tannin, already developed to satisfy the relevant adhesives standard requirements. The adhesive system stood up to the scaling up to industrial dimension with good performance of strength. The strength characteristic were compared with those obtained with a 50% natural material honeymoon adhesive already in commercial operation for several decades with yielding even better results. Full scale fingerjoints and woodlam prepared with beech timber gave good results. The fast-set characteristics of the adhesive system were maintained in the scaling up too.

Drilling of pre-laminated particleboards is a subject insufficiently covered by dedicated research. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the relationship of some key drilling parameters and analyze the variation of the thrust force, torque and surface delamination with the feed per tooth and drill tip angle at drilling pre-laminated particleboard. The surface quality was evaluated by the size of delaminations, at the exit side of the drill bit. To assess the defect, two non-dimensional parameters were used: the common delamination factor Fd based on the measurement of diameters of the circle circumscribing the defect and of the processed hole, and a new delamination factor, FdS, proposed by the authors and based on the effective measurements of the defect area with an image processing software. The experiments were performed on a range of feed per tooth rates from 0.1 to 0.7mm and four flat drill tip angles: 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°. The results showed that, a low feed rate generally minimizes both the drilling torque and the thrust force and also the delamination, while a small tip angle increases the drilling torque and generally minimizes the thrust force and delamination. The drill with T30 tip angle made exception from this trend, due to its geometry that caused the highest thrust force. The flat drill with 60° tip angle gave the best quality for small feed rates, while inducing the smallest thrust force, which makes it the preferable recommendation, amongst the tools tested, for drilling pre-laminated particleboards.

To modify polyvinylacetate dispersions, it was proposed to use the redox complex – Fenton reagent as a source of free radicals and oxidant for individual constituents, also it was proposed to use the acid-salt complex of nitric acid and aluminium nitrate as the mixture oxidant and the structure-forming agent (due to the formation of coordination bonds with functional groups of polymeric chains).The article presents the results of theoretical studies on possible mechanisms of chemical interaction between PVA dispersion-based adhesive composition (PVAD-51P trade mark) and modifying agents; also given here are the results of experimental investigation by infrared spectroscopy in transmittance of polymeric films formed both by modified and non-modified polyvinylacetate adhesive compositions.

The combination of damaging agents, as biotic and abiotic factors, has as effect the deterioration in the appearance of the foliage of affected trees and then, progressive death of branches. Large numbers of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea) trees are declining in the Central Romania. Depending on the deterioration of the foliage and of the branches, five grades of infestation levels of oak trees were determined. The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of wood obtained from those infested trees by analysing the cellulose and lignin content, physical properties such as moisture content, density, shrinkage from fibre saturation moisture content, permeability of wood to water, and mechanical properties, such as MOE, MOR for static stresses, tensile strength perpendicular to the grains, shearing strength and Janka hardness perpendicular to the grains. The more representative samples of trees affected by oak decline for the five grades of infestation levels of trees were randomly selected and harvested. They were cut into logs and then sampled for the chemical, physical and mechanical testing. The results of this study showed that the poor quality of wood resulted from the logs affected by oak decline at the final stage (five grade of infestation level) could not be used for furniture and other wooden products manufacturing

The purpose of this paper is to present innovative wood-plastic composites made from waste materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and wood shavings resulted in the furniture manufacturing process. From previous investigations (with regard to physical integrity and compactness of the panels), only mixtures ranging from a ratio of 100% ABS: 0% shavings to 80% ABS: 20% shavings were selected for water resistance testing. Swelling in thickness and water absorption for 2h and 24h were determined for the proposed wood-plastic composites. The results have shown that only a participation of up to 10% of wood shavings in the tested panels conducted to a good performance.

Chinese lacquer (urushi) is an ancient natural finishing material obtained from the sap of the lacquer trees (Rhus vernicifera). This has been used for millennia to protect and decorate furniture and various artefacts made of wood or other materials. Lacquered objects are important components of Chinese and world cultural heritage and their conservation imposes a good knowledge and understanding of the material and traditional techniques. This paper presents basic information on the Chinese lacquer as material and lacquering techniques in their historic evolution during different dynasties. The experimental part looked at the physical properties of raw urushi lacquer, respectively aspect, solids content and miscibility with different solvents. A limited compatibility with white spirit as potential thinner was demonstrated. Furthermore, the microstructure of the cured film and characteristic chemical features of raw urushi lacquer as liquid and cured film were investigated. The cured film of raw urushi presents a characteristic microstructural pattern. FTIR spectroscopy revealed a partial oxidation and polymerization following processing by Kuromisation. The further curing accentuated these changes, visible as a decrease of hydroxyl absorptions bands (3400 and 1360cm-1 ) occurring in parallel with an increase of carbonyl band (1740cm-1 ). A strong decrease of the absorption band at 1270cm-1 , which nearly disappears for the cured film, was also observed.

The experiments conducted during scientific research can be very simple or very complex. It is widely known that the classic (passive) experiments, consisting of 5 tests at every point of the experiment, are the most precise, but also expensive experiments. In order to reduce the cost of experiments, many researchers use different types of active experiments. These experiments are cheaper than the classical experiments, but no so precise (up to 95%). The number of tests that are necessary can be reduced by designing the experiments (DOE experiments). If we take into account that the structure of wood (depending on its type) is non-uniform, it is possible that the results of the experimental research conducted with active experiments are inaccurate. In order to confirm or invalidate these hypothesis, this paper presents a simulation program that allows simulations of a milling process for different types of experiments.

The paper presents the results of a research performed in order to design and manufacture composites that embed in their structure ecological raw materials, such as wood chips and hemp hurds. The thermal conductivity was determined for a temperature difference (ΔT) of 200 C between the cold plate and warm plate and the measurements were done in eight points. The results showed that the best insulating composite material was obtained for the structure containing equal shares of wood chips and chopped hemp

Wood heat treatment is an attractive alternative to improve decay resistance of wood species with low natural durability. Durability and mechanical properties are strongly correlated to thermal degradation of wood cells wall components. Mass loss resulting from this degradation is a good indicator of treatment intensity and final treated wood properties. Several types of convective heating processes exist currently differing mainly by the nature of the inert atmosphere used during treatment: nitrogen, steam or oil. Conductive heat treatment using vacuum as inert atmosphere is an attractive new alternative to previous classical methods. Heat transfer by conduction has been reported to provide better treatment homogeneity than heat transfer using convection. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of vacuum comparatively to nitrogen on the thermal degradation pathways and on the conferred properties to the material. It appears that utilization of vacuum permit a better control of thermal degradation reactions limiting the mass loss resulting from degradation of wood cell wall polymers. Chemical analysis indicates that wood heat treated under nitrogen present higher Klason lignin and carbon contents, lower hemicelluloses and neutral monosaccharides contents comparatively to wood heat treated under vacuum. At the same time, mechanical properties are less affected under vacuum, which constitute another advantage of this technology.

The objective of this paper is to address in a critical and synthetic manner Romanian vernacular architecture and traditional furniture in a European context. The studied areas of Europe were selected in order to obtain relevant data and conclusions regarding vernacular concepts which in the near future could be reintegrated and accepted in the contemporary design process of our country. The objectives of the research are clear, measurable and grouped in the following phases: Phase 1 - general considerations on vernacular architecture in European countries; Phase 2 - the analysis of specific manifestations of vernacular architecture and furniture in the selected regions of Europe: Soria Province- Spain, town of Florina – Greece, Vrin – Switzerland, Baranya and Hollókő – Hungary, Rekawinkel – Austria, Vâlcea and Sibiu – Romania. Also the structural, spatial and functional evolution of vernacular housing was analysed along with the utilised construction materials; orientation, proportion of the facade; natural ventilation, shading systems, climate. The descriptions and tables will include features and characteristics of vernacular architecture and furniture for each European region analysed based on the following common criteria: geographic, climatic, topographic, socio-economic, historic - data collection; the identification of the existing vernacular built context and general construction data collection; the identification of architectural typologies (spatial, functional, structural) and the selection of representative examples; in-depth study of the selected examples; formulation of a conclusion.