O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal avaliar a utilização dos resíduos gerados pelo processamento mecânico das madeiras amazônicas Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum, Mezilaurus itauba, Erisma uncinatum, Tachigali myrmecophyla e Qualea paraensis na produção de painéis aglomerados de alta densificação. Os painéis foram produzidos com massa específica nominal de 850 kg.m-3, espessura nominal de 15,7 mm e adesivo fenol-formaldeído. Foram adotados 16 tratamentos, analisados por meio de quatro experimentos consecutivos, os quais avaliaram as propriedades físico-mecânicas dos painéis produzidos a partir de cada espécie e de uma mistura entre todas elas em partes iguais, o efeito da remoção dos finos no processo de produção, a influência da alteração do teor de adesivo de 8% para 11% sobre as propriedades dos painéis e a utilização da proporção de 50% de mistura com resíduos de lâminas de Schizolobium amazonicum. A partir dos painéis produzidos, foram confeccionados corpos-de-prova para a realização de ensaios físicos (massa específica, teor de umidade, absorção de água e inchamento em espessura) e mecânicos (flexão estática - MoR e MoE, ligação interna, arrancamento de parafuso e dureza Janka), conduzidos conforme a norma ABNT NBR 14810-3 (2006b). Foi realizada, também, a avaliação do perfil de densidade dos painéis pela metodologia de atenuação de raios X. Observou-se que os painéis aglomerados manufaturados com os resíduos das madeiras Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum e Tachigali myrmecophyla apresentaram, de maneira geral, propriedades tecnológicas superiores às demais espécies, atendendo um ou mais requisitos mínimos indicados pela norma ANSI A208.1 (2009) para painéis de alta densidade (classificação H-1) e painéis destinados a produção de pisos (classificação PBU). A remoção dos finos na produção dos painéis resultou em tendência de aumento dos valores de MoR, MoE, ligação interna e dureza Janka e contribuiu para reduzir a AA2h, AA24h e IE2h, além de formar perfis de densidade mais homogêneos. O aumento do teor de adesivo de 8% para 11% resultou em tendência de redução dos valores de AA2h, AA24h, IE2h e IE24h e aumento dos valores de dureza Janka, bem como interações significativas para o MoE e ligação interna, além de formar perfis com picos mais elevados de massa específica nas faces e aumento dos valores de massa específica no miolo. A utilização da proporção de 50% de mistura com partículas de Schizolobium amazonicum resultou em tendência de aumento dos valores de MoE e AP topo e redução dos valores de dureza Janka. Houve interação significativa entre os fatores para as propriedades AA24h, IE2h, IE24h, MoR e ligação interna, resultando em tendência de aumento dos valores obtidos. A mistura de 50% originou perfis com picos mais elevados de massa específica nas faces. Os painéis aglomerados manufaturados com resíduos de madeiras amazônicas apresentaram potencial de utilização e se revelaram uma alternativa viável do ponto de vista tecnológico para o aproveitamento de resíduos. / The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potential use of Amazonian wood residues from the mechanical processing of Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum, Mezilaurus lindaviana, Erisma uncinatum, Tachigali myrmecophyla and Qualea paraensis in the high density particleboard production. The panels were produced with nominal density of 850 kg.m-3, nominal thickness of 15.7 mm and phenol formaldehyde adhesive. Sixteen treatments were analyzed by four consecutive experiments, which evaluated the physical and mechanical properties of the boards produced from the six species and an equal mix of all six, the effect of removing the fines in the production process, the influence of the change of 8% adhesive content to 11% on the properties of the panels and the use of the mixture proportion of 50% with veneers residues of Schizolobium amazonicum. Their performance was evaluated with respect to their physical (apparent density, moisture content, water absorption and thickness swelling) and mechanical (static bending - modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, internal bond, direct screw withdrawal and Janka hardness) properties, conducted according to ABNT NBR 14810-3 (2006b). The evaluation of the density profile of the panels was also performed by X-ray attenuation methodology. It was observed that the particleboard manufactured with wood residues from Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum and Tachigali myrmecophyla presented, in general, technological properties superior to other species, according one or more minimum requirements specified by ANSI A208.1 (2009) for high density panels (H-1 grade) and panels for the production of floors (PBU grade). The removal of the fine in the production of panels resulted in a tendency to increase the values of MoR, MoE, internal bond and Janka hardness and contributed to reduce the WA2h, WA24h and TS2h, besides formed more homogeneous density profiles. The increase from 8% adhesive content to 11% resulted in a tendency to reduce the values of WA2h, WA24h, TS2h and TS24h and increased Janka hardness values, as well as presented significant interactions for the MoE and internal bond, besides formed profiles with higher peak density in the faces and lowest density values in the core. The utilization of 50% mixture proportion with Schizolobium amazonicum particles resulted in a tendency to increase the values of MoE and direct screw withdrawal from the edge and reduced the values of Janka hardness. There were significant interactions between the factors for WA24h, TS2h, TS24h, MoR and internal bond properties, resulting in a tendency to increase the values. The mixture of 50% originated profiles with higher peak density in the faces. The particleboard manufactured with Amazonian wood residues showed potential use and viable alternative from a technological point of view for residues recovery.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal avaliar a utilização dos resíduos gerados pelo processamento mecânico das madeiras amazônicas Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum, Mezilaurus itauba, Erisma uncinatum, Tachigali myrmecophyla e Qualea paraensis na produção de painéis aglomerados de alta densificação. Os painéis foram produzidos com massa específica nominal de 850 kg.m-3, espessura nominal de 15,7 mm e adesivo fenol-formaldeído. Foram adotados 16 tratamentos, analisados por meio de quatro experimentos consecutivos, os quais avaliaram as propriedades físico-mecânicas dos painéis produzidos a partir de cada espécie e de uma mistura entre todas elas em partes iguais, o efeito da remoção dos finos no processo de produção, a influência da alteração do teor de adesivo de 8% para 11% sobre as propriedades dos painéis e a utilização da proporção de 50% de mistura com resíduos de lâminas de Schizolobium amazonicum. A partir dos painéis produzidos, foram confeccionados corpos-de-prova para a realização de ensaios físicos (massa específica, teor de umidade, absorção de água e inchamento em espessura) e mecânicos (flexão estática - MoR e MoE, ligação interna, arrancamento de parafuso e dureza Janka), conduzidos conforme a norma ABNT NBR 14810-3 (2006b). Foi realizada, também, a avaliação do perfil de densidade dos painéis pela metodologia de atenuação de raios X. Observou-se que os painéis aglomerados manufaturados com os resíduos das madeiras Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum e Tachigali myrmecophyla apresentaram, de maneira geral, propriedades tecnológicas superiores às demais espécies, atendendo um ou mais requisitos mínimos indicados pela norma ANSI A208.1 (2009) para painéis de alta densidade (classificação H-1) e painéis destinados a produção de pisos (classificação PBU). A remoção dos finos na produção dos painéis resultou em tendência de aumento dos valores de MoR, MoE, ligação interna e dureza Janka e contribuiu para reduzir a AA2h, AA24h e IE2h, além de formar perfis de densidade mais homogêneos. O aumento do teor de adesivo de 8% para 11% resultou em tendência de redução dos valores de AA2h, AA24h, IE2h e IE24h e aumento dos valores de dureza Janka, bem como interações significativas para o MoE e ligação interna, além de formar perfis com picos mais elevados de massa específica nas faces e aumento dos valores de massa específica no miolo. A utilização da proporção de 50% de mistura com partículas de Schizolobium amazonicum resultou em tendência de aumento dos valores de MoE e AP topo e redução dos valores de dureza Janka. Houve interação significativa entre os fatores para as propriedades AA24h, IE2h, IE24h, MoR e ligação interna, resultando em tendência de aumento dos valores obtidos. A mistura de 50% originou perfis com picos mais elevados de massa específica nas faces. Os painéis aglomerados manufaturados com resíduos de madeiras amazônicas apresentaram potencial de utilização e se revelaram uma alternativa viável do ponto de vista tecnológico para o aproveitamento de resíduos. / The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potential use of Amazonian wood residues from the mechanical processing of Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum, Mezilaurus lindaviana, Erisma uncinatum, Tachigali myrmecophyla and Qualea paraensis in the high density particleboard production. The panels were produced with nominal density of 850 kg.m-3, nominal thickness of 15.7 mm and phenol formaldehyde adhesive. Sixteen treatments were analyzed by four consecutive experiments, which evaluated the physical and mechanical properties of the boards produced from the six species and an equal mix of all six, the effect of removing the fines in the production process, the influence of the change of 8% adhesive content to 11% on the properties of the panels and the use of the mixture proportion of 50% with veneers residues of Schizolobium amazonicum. Their performance was evaluated with respect to their physical (apparent density, moisture content, water absorption and thickness swelling) and mechanical (static bending - modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, internal bond, direct screw withdrawal and Janka hardness) properties, conducted according to ABNT NBR 14810-3 (2006b). The evaluation of the density profile of the panels was also performed by X-ray attenuation methodology. It was observed that the particleboard manufactured with wood residues from Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum and Tachigali myrmecophyla presented, in general, technological properties superior to other species, according one or more minimum requirements specified by ANSI A208.1 (2009) for high density panels (H-1 grade) and panels for the production of floors (PBU grade). The removal of the fine in the production of panels resulted in a tendency to increase the values of MoR, MoE, internal bond and Janka hardness and contributed to reduce the WA2h, WA24h and TS2h, besides formed more homogeneous density profiles. The increase from 8% adhesive content to 11% resulted in a tendency to reduce the values of WA2h, WA24h, TS2h and TS24h and increased Janka hardness values, as well as presented significant interactions for the MoE and internal bond, besides formed profiles with higher peak density in the faces and lowest density values in the core. The utilization of 50% mixture proportion with Schizolobium amazonicum particles resulted in a tendency to increase the values of MoE and direct screw withdrawal from the edge and reduced the values of Janka hardness. There were significant interactions between the factors for WA24h, TS2h, TS24h, MoR and internal bond properties, resulting in a tendency to increase the values. The mixture of 50% originated profiles with higher peak density in the faces. The particleboard manufactured with Amazonian wood residues showed potential use and viable alternative from a technological point of view for residues recovery.

L’objet de ce travail de thèse est le regroupement des essences bois du bassin du Congo en quatre groupes en fonction de la similitude de leurs propriétés mécaniques essentielles. Le module d’élasticité (MOE), propriété indicatrice, est estimé par une méthode non destructive : l’essai vibratoire. Pour chaque classe, le fractile à 5% d’exclusion supérieur d’une propriété mécanique est calculé à partir d’une théorie clairement exposée. Le bassin du Congo est un patrimoine en danger à cause des pressions anthropiques au premier rang desquelles figure la coupe hyper sélective des essences bois. Le résultat de ce regroupement permet de proposer comme substitut aux essences menacées d’extinction des essences aux propriétés mécaniques similaires plus disponibles en terme de ressources sur pied. D’où la contribution à la gestion durable et au maintien de la biodiversité du bassin du Congo. On montre que le MOE vibratoire est quasi-invariant avec la teneur en eau et qu’il est bien corrélé au MOE statique, à la masse volumique et à la contrainte à la rupture. C’est donc un bon prédicteur du module de rupture (MOR) à 12% du taux d’humidité du bois vert. Ceci valide l’organisation en groupe d’essences réalisée dans ce travail. Les valeurs caractéristiques des propriétés mesurées sont calculées pour chaque classe. Parce que l’Eurocode 5 exige que les bois utilisés en structure soient classés, nous proposons, in fine, un système de classement en structure des bois du bassin du Congo voué à une meilleure utilisation des forêts pour la conservation des écosystèmes forestiers et la satisfaction des besoins fondamentaux de l’homme. / This Ph.D. work deals with a non-destructive experimental approach organizing the species of the Congo basin in four groups according to the likeness of their main mechanical properties, and to guarantee for each group the 5th percentile characteristic value of mechanical properties such as the modulus of elasticity (MOE). For the sustainable management of forest and conservation of exotic biodiversity of the Congo basin, it is necessary to promote the exploitation of less-consumed species with equivalent mechanical characteristics. The aim of the present work is to propose a scheme for grouping species with similar values of modulus of elasticity (MOE) obtained through vibratory method. Only small clear specimens are tested. The assignment of a given specie to one of the four groups takes place in return for a homogeneity test of comparison of the random variables of species to the random variable of the group. Results of the present grading show that some species can be interchangeably consumed in the construction industry and that the procedure must include more species of the Congo basin. This property grouping will facilitate substitution of underutilized species for ones that are being more exploited. Thus, wood designers and constructors might have a wide variety of choices in their decision-making while promoting less-consumed species and reducing the demand of traditionally most wanted extinguishable species. The MOE obtained by intrinsic vibration of wood versus is not influenced by moisture content. So, the non destructive method bases on longitudinal vibrations can be used in industrial production of timber to certify the modulus of rupture (MOR) at 12% moisture content of green wood by direct correlation. Finally, we propose a grading system of tropical wood.

The presented thesis is focused on aesthetical and acoustic properties of tropical wood. The discussed tropical species are utilized in Europe mainly for their unusual appearance and colour in joinery and furniture production. The irreplacable acoustic properties like low internal friction predestine specific species for production of musical instruments. The colour of six selected tropical species - jatoba (Hymenea courbaril L.), massaranduba (Manilkara bidentata A. Chev.), muiracatiara (Astronium graveolens Jacq.), angelim amargoso (Vatairea spp.), angelim pedra (Hymenolobium spp.) and angelim vermelho (Dinizia excelsa Ducke) - were analyzed and expressed in CIEL*a*b* colour space. Subsequently the samples were exposed to artificial sunlight and the light-induced discolouration rate and progress was evaluated. The colour change was rapid in zhe first hours of exposure and all species showed a similar trend in lightness (L*) change - initial darkening replaced by gradual fading. The change in chromatic parameters (a* and b*) change was specific for individual species and probably related to the chemical composition of the extractives. The overall discolouration of lighter coloured wood samples is more distinctive. The extractive content of tropical species is usually high and determines wood colour. The wood of African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii Taub) and Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril L.) was extracted in a mixture of methanol, water and acetone. The total extractives and total phenolic content was measured. Extractive content was related to colour parameters and above all to lightness in both species. The increase in extractive content leads to a lighter and more yellow colouration of Jatoba wood while African Padauk was darker with a higher amount of extractives. In Jatoba, a positive correlation was found between extractive content and the rate of discolouration. The extractives are responsible for intensive discolouration of tropical woods in contrast to light coloured woods from the temperate zone, where the yellowing is primarily caused by lignin photodegradation. The sound velocity was measured by ultrasound and resonance longitudinal method in heartwood of doussie (Afzelia bipindensis), merbau (Intsia bijuga), wengé (Millettia stuhlmannii Taub.), muiracatiara (Astronium graveolens Jacq.) and zebrano (Microberlinia brazzavillensis). The sound velocity was not related to the density in any case. Although anatomical structural characteristics as fiber length or ray ratio positively influenced it. With longer fibers and slender rays the sound velocity increased. Other acoustic properties like dynamic young modulus of elasticity, specific modulus of elasticity, internal friction and acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE) were determined and were related to measured anatomical features. The differences in composition of wood tissue of individual species were the main source of departure between the assessed relationships. The wood with longer fibers and lower frequency of rays reached lower values of internal friction. The stiffness of wood characterized by the dynamic modulus of elasticity was correlated with fiber and ray tissue. A higher volume of fibers influenced the stiffness positively, while ray volume had the opposite effect on stiffness. Positive effects of fiber length and ray ratio were found for dynamic modulus of elasticity and for acoustic conversion efficiency as well. Both values increased with longer fibers and higher ray ratio. The sound velocity is the basis of some nondestructive techniques for determination of wood mechanical properties. The comparison of density and three dynamic moduli of elasticity (longitudinal and flexural resonance method and ultrasound method) in prediction of mechanical properties was carried out. The density was evaluated as a poor predictor when the samples are not straight-grained and defect free. The interlocked grain often occurred in tropical species and its presence influences the mechanical properties of wood but not wood density. The dynamic moduli of elasticity showed strong correlation with the static modulus of elasticity. Among nondestructive techniques, the weakest correlation was found for the ultrasound method, which is probably partially explained by different measuring mechanism. The prediction of the modulus of rupture is less accurate when the dynamic modulus of elasticity is compared with the static modulus of elasticity; however, it was still good in comparison with the density model.

L’objectif général de cette thèse est de déterminer le rôle de l’exclusion compétitive, du filtrage environnemental et des limites de dispersion dans la distribution des espèces de fourmis de la litière en forêt guyanaise. Pour cela, nous avons évalué comment la diversité des assemblages de fourmis varie le long de gradients environnementaux et géographiques, en considérant les trois facettes de la diversité (i.e. taxonomique, phylogénétique et fonctionnelle) à différentes échelles spatiales. Des patrons observés de structure fonctionnelle et phylogénétique plus faibles qu’attendus au hasard suggèrent que le filtrage environnemental agit sur la distribution des espèces à l’échelle du site de récolte. En revanche, l’hypothèse d’une sur-dispersion fonctionnelle et/ou phylogénétique entre espèces qui co-occurrent localement résultant de l’exclusion d’espèces similaires n’est pas soutenue par nos résultats. A l’échelle régionale, nos résultats montrent que les communautés de fourmis sont fortement structurées par les variations environnementales. La distance spatiale influence également la distribution des espèces de fourmis à travers la région. D’après l’ensemble de nos résultats, le filtrage environnemental est la force majeure de structuration des assemblages d’espèces de fourmis en forêt guyanaise, tant à l’échelle locale qu’à l’échelle régionale. Les espèces sont réparties de manière fragmentaire sur le territoire, en réponse aux variations environnementales. Les patrons de diversité sont également influencés par la distance spatiale à l’échelle régionale, résultant en un turnover dans la composition spécifique des assemblages de fourmis entre localités éloignées. / The overall aim of this thesis is to determine the role of competitive exclusion, environmental filtering and dispersal limitation on the distribution of leaf-litter ant species in French Guianese forest. To this end, we evaluated how the diversity of ant communities varies along environmental and geographic gradients, using the three facets of diversity (i.e. taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional dimensions) at different spatial scales. Observed patterns of functional and phylogenetic structure lower than expected by chance suggest that environmental filtering acts on the distribution of ant species at the scale of sampled site. In contrast, the hypothesis of functional and/or phylogenetic overdispersion between locally co-occurring species resulting from the exclusion of similar species is not supported by our results. At the regional scale, our results show that ant communities are strongly structured by environmental variations. Spatial distance also influences the distribution of ant species throughout the region. Taken together, our results suggest that environmental filtering is the main driver structuring communities of ant species in French Guianese rainforest, both at local and regional scales. Species are distributed in a patchy way throughout the region, in response to environmental variations. Patterns of diversity are also influenced by the spatial distance at the regional scale, leading to a turnover in species composition of ant communities between distant areas.