WOOD SCIENCE TEACHING CURRICULA
UPDATING – CASE OF WOOD MODIFICATION

Arian Kapidani
MsC., Agricultural University of Tirana, ALBANIA, kapidani.arian@gmail.com

Abstract

Because of continuous reduction of forest resources, the challenge for production of high performance wood products, which means long-lived products, is becoming more and more evident. For a better adapt to this reality, as well as for a better approach to wood processing industry requirements, the staff of Wood Industry Department of the Faculty of Forestry Sciences of Tirana has implemented in its teaching curricula the recognition and application of different methods of wood modification. Wood modification aims to improve wood properties. Among different didactic and scientific activities related to improvement of mechanical properties of wood, a comparative experimental investigation was performed with sodium chloride (NaCl) treated and non-treated silver fir wood (Abies alba Mill.) with regard to hardness strength, based on mechanical tests performed according to standard ISO 13061-12. From 48 samples with dimensions 50´50´50 mm, 24 of them were full covered with solid NaCl for a period of 2 years. The samples were sawn from boards produced from fir logs of the area of central Albania. After treated and non-treated samples were conditioned, the weight percent gain was calculated and samples were tested by means of mechanical testing machine, in the Faculty of Forestry Sciences of Tirana. The weight percent gain of treated fir resulted 17.2%. The Janka hardness parallel to the grain of treated wood resulted 19% higher than non-treated one, while perpendicular to the grain resulted 22% higher. It was noted that difference of hardness referring to grain directions was smaller for treated wood than non-treated one. In the framework of a quantitative and qualitative analysis, measured values of Janka hardness of non-treated wood were compared with respective values of silver fir wood from the literature. No significant variations were noted. As conclusion we might say that findings of this study are very useful for wood processing industry, making so possible the development and the application of eco-friendly technologies for production of high performance wood products.

Keywords: silver fir, Janka hardness, NaCl treatment.


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CITATION: Abstracts & Proceedings of INTCESS 2019- 6th International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, 4-6 February 2019- Dubai, UAE

ISBN: 978-605-82433-5-4