ADVANCES IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS - ECODESIGN AND ANALYSIS

Biological performance

Composites have been subjected to a decay resistance test of 8 weeks against Gloeophyllum trabeum and Coriolus versicolor for beech samples and Gloeophyllum trabeum and Poria placenta for pine samples. At the end, control samples have been recognized as nutritive material. Due to their surface acidity, treated samples succeed in repelling the fungi.

2. Industrial application promises

2.1 Perspectives

According to the former sections, a heating catalysed treatment of impregnated wood led under soft conditions leads to a strongly softened material. This softened character remains even under ambiant temperature which offers the advantage of a possible moulding in ambiant conditions. Then, after a second step of heating, the material recovers its initial stiffness.

Figure 11 gives an overview of some possible applications: