Impact of Aging and Storage on Wood Chips for Cement Binding Particle Boards: Exploring Hydration Kinetics of Cement

Abstract

In this study, the impact of ageing and storage conditions on wood chips used in the production of cement-bonded particleboard is investigated. In particular, the focus is on the impact on the mechanical properties of cement-bonded particleboard, i.e., flexural strength and hydration kinetics of the cement. Cement particle boards are produced in lab conditions by mixing wood chips with water, accelerators and cement. They are then pressed and cured in an oven at 40 °C for 4 hours. To further investigate the impact of wood extractives on cement hydration, wood chips are immersed for 4 hours in a solution with a pH value of 12.5. Subsequently, the liquid (water and wood extractives) is collected by pressing the mixture. Once extracted, the liquid is mixed with cement and placed in an isothermal calorimeter. The kinetics of cement hydration can then be studied from the heat generation as a function of time. Furthermore, the effects of accelerators, namely sodium silicate and calcium chloride, on the cement-bonded particleboards and the hydration kinetics of the cement are investigated.

Ultimately, this study contributes to a better understanding of the complex relationships between the materials used in cementitious particleboard, focusing on the effects of wood sugars on the mechanical properties and hydration kinetics of cement mixtures.