Comparative properties of sugarcane rind and wood strands for structural composite manufacturing

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2004

Abstract

Anatomical, thermal, tensile strength, and moisture sorption properties of sugarcane rind (i.e., comrind) and wood strands from southern pine, yellow-poplar, red oak, and willow were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that the comrind stem consists of an outer waxy layer, rind fibers, and an inner pith. Rind fiber cell walls are thicker than those of southern pine, which is especially true for the outer surface region. Compared to southern pine, rind has a less uniform cell structure. There are distinct regions where fibers with thick cell walls are surrounded with thin cell wall fibers. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that the rind fibers and inner pith had the same DSC patterns. The outer waxy layer of rind showed inferior thermal stability. Rind nodes showed slightly less thermal stability than the stalk. Rind and wood had different DSC patterns in the temperature range from 150° to 200°C. Thermogravimetric analysis results showed that comrind was less thermally stable than southern pine wood. At a given level of relative humidity, comrind reached a slightly higher equilibrium moisture content (EMC) compared to wood strands for both adsorption and desorption. A sorption hysteresis was observed for all materials tested. Nelson's sorption isotherm accurately reproduced the experimental data of these different materials. Comrind had the largest tensile strength among the various materials tested. Similar to wood, tensile strength of rind decreased with an increase of its moisture content except at a low EMC of 3.7 percent.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Forest Products Journal

First Page

283

Last Page

288

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