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Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-165).

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The use of wood-based composites has increased dramatically over the last two decades due to a number of factors. One reason is that Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is being increasingly utilized in residential applications in place of plywood. However, the use of OSB in residential construction is often limited because of its susceptibility to attack by biological pathogens such as mold and decay fungi. The environmental conditions that exist in certain use categories can be so adverse that the performance of these composites is negatively affected. This study was divided into two parts. The first phase examined the effectiveness of fungicides or combinations of fungicides (including some metal-containing preservatives) for enhancing the mold resistance of strandboard. During the second part of the study, preliminaryexperiments investigated the effectiveness of fungicides or combinations of fungicides using anagar-block test to estimate the preservative toxic threshold retention. The compatibility of the fungicide on the resin curing was studied by measuring change in the resin gelation and viscosity. After these screening experiments were completed, large size boards were prepared and mechanical and decay resistance properties were examined. It was found that mold and decay resistance properties of strandboard directly were related with the biocide type and its concentration. Greater protection of the strandboard was achieved with an increase in preservative retention levels. However, due to the relatively high cost of non-metallic (organic) preservatives, it is important to find the minimum amount of preservative that can protect the OSB against mold and decay fungi. One method of reducing the cost and increasing efficacy is to combine different fungicides to determine whether synergism exists. Even if synergism does not occur, it may reduce the overall cost by combining a less expensive biocide with a smaller amount of a more expensive biocide wheretheir biocidal efficacy complements each other. In addition, it is important to understand that high retention of preservative may also cause negative effects on the mechanical properties of strandboard. This maybe noticeable of the high retention level of the biocide when a greater negative effect on the internal bonding (IB) strength may be recorded. Lower IB strength for treated strandboard may be attributed to the formulation of chemical residue in the wood surface, which may interfere with the reaction between wood and phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin. Surface-active agents in the preservative may also cause the PF resin to over-penetrate into wood decreasing bond strength. Increasing moisture content of strands by the introduction of an emulsified aqueous biocide solution, may cause dilution of the resin, and reduced bonding. It should also be noted that high retention of preservative which cause a change in the viscosity and gelation time of PF resins would be problematic for the operation of an OSB plant. For viscosity change, it could significantly affect the flow properties of the resin on the wood furnish and its atomization as it is spraying onto the wood furnish. In addition, it may require further modification to the equipment that supplies the resin to the spray nozzle. For changes in the gelation time, this may require changes to the press time at the OSB plant.

The use of wood-based composites has increased dramatically over the last two decades due to a number of factors. One reason is that Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is being increasingly utilized in residential applications in place of plywood. However, the use of OSB in residential construction is often limited because of its susceptibility to attack by biological pathogens such as mold and decay fungi. The environmental conditions that exist in certain use categories can be so adverse that the performance of these composites is negatively affected. This study was divided into two parts. The first phase examined the effectiveness of fungicides or combinations of fungicides (including some metal-containing preservatives) for enhancing the mold resistance of strandboard. During the second part of the study, preliminaryexperiments investigated the effectiveness of fungicides or combinations of fungicides using anagar-block test to estimate the preservative toxic threshold retention. The compatibility of the fungicide on the resin curing was studied by measuring change in the resin gelation and viscosity. After these screening experiments were completed, large size boards were prepared and mechanical and decay resistance properties were examined. It was found that mold and decay resistance properties of strandboard directly were related with the biocide type and its concentration. Greater protection of the strandboard was achieved with an increase in preservative retention levels. However, due to the relatively high cost of non-metallic (organic) preservatives, it is important to find the minimum amount of preservative that can protect the OSB against mold and decay fungi. One method of reducing the cost and increasing efficacy is to combine different fungicides to determine whether synergism exists. Even if synergism does not occur, it may reduce the overall cost by combining a less expensive biocide with a smaller amount of a more expensive biocide wheretheir biocidal efficacy complements each other. In addition, it is important to understand that high retention of preservative may also cause negative effects on the mechanical properties of strandboard. This maybe noticeable of the high retention level of the biocide when a greater negative effect on the internal bonding (IB) strength may be recorded. Lower IB strength for treated strandboard may be attributed to the formulation of chemical residue in the wood surface, which may interfere with the reaction between wood and phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin. Surface-active agents in the preservative may also cause the PF resin to over-penetrate into wood decreasing bond strength. Increasing moisture content of strands by the introduction of an emulsified aqueous biocide solution, may cause dilution of the resin, and reduced bonding. It should also be noted that high retention of preservative which cause a change in the viscosity and gelation time of PF resins would be problematic for the operation of an OSB plant. For viscosity change, it could significantly affect the flow properties of the resin on the wood furnish and its atomization as it is spraying onto the wood furnish. In addition, it may require further modification to the equipment that supplies the resin to the spray nozzle. For changes in the gelation time, this may require changes to the press time at the OSB plant.

The use of wood-based composites has increased dramatically over the last two decades due to a number of factors. One reason is that Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is being increasingly utilized in residential applications in place of plywood. However, the use of OSB in residential construction is often limited because of its susceptibility to attack by biological pathogens such as mold and decay fungi. The environmental conditions that exist in certain use categories can be so adverse that the performance of these composites is negatively affected. This study was divided into two parts. The first phase examined the effectiveness of fungicides or combinations of fungicides (including some metal-containing preservatives) for enhancing the mold resistance of strandboard. During the second part of the study, preliminaryexperiments investigated the effectiveness of fungicides or combinations of fungicides using anagar-block test to estimate the preservative toxic threshold retention. The compatibility of the fungicide on the resin curing was studied by measuring change in the resin gelation and viscosity. After these screening experiments were completed, large size boards were prepared and mechanical and decay resistance properties were examined. It was found that mold and decay resistance properties of strandboard directly were related with the biocide type and its concentration. Greater protection of the strandboard was achieved with an increase in preservative retention levels. However, due to the relatively high cost of non-metallic (organic) preservatives, it is important to find the minimum amount of preservative that can protect the OSB against mold and decay fungi. One method of reducing the cost and increasing efficacy is to combine different fungicides to determine whether synergism exists. Even if synergism does not occur, it may reduce the overall cost by combining a less expensive biocide with a smaller amount of a more expensive biocide wheretheir biocidal efficacy complements each other. In addition, it is important to understand that high retention of preservative may also cause negative effects on the mechanical properties of strandboard. This maybe noticeable of the high retention level of the biocide when a greater negative effect on the internal bonding (IB) strength may be recorded. Lower IB strength for treated strandboard may be attributed to the formulation of chemical residue in the wood surface, which may interfere with the reaction between wood and phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin. Surface-active agents in the preservative may also cause the PF resin to over-penetrate into wood decreasing bond strength. Increasing moisture content of strands by the introduction of an emulsified aqueous biocide solution, may cause dilution of the resin, and reduced bonding. It should also be noted that high retention of preservative which cause a change in the viscosity and gelation time of PF resins would be problematic for the operation of an OSB plant. For viscosity change, it could significantly affect the flow properties of the resin on the wood furnish and its atomization as it is spraying onto the wood furnish. In addition, it may require further modification to the equipment that supplies the resin to the spray nozzle. For changes in the gelation time, this may require changes to the press time at the OSB plant. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Flood waters will penetrate the wall cavities of a home and the wall materials then serve as a substrate for mold development. This study measured the effect of flooding and subsequent drying on the extent and type of mold on different residential wall materials. Wet and dry wall samples were analyzed by cloning and sequencing and twenty-one mold species were identified from above and below the water line. Real-time PCR quantitated selected species on fiberglass batt insulation, gypsum wallboard, wood stud, plywood panels, vinyl siding, and house wrap. The mold species found in the highest concentration were Aspergillus fumigatus, Paecilomyces variotii, Chaetomium globosum, and Stachybotrys chartarum. The batt insulation supported the highest concentration of mold, followed by the wood stud, sheathing and gypsum wallboard. The high level of Aspergillus fumigatus and Stachybotrys chartarum on the wall materials seven months after flooding is a cause for concern.

Weight reduction in automobiles is amongst the most economical ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. The recently invented ablation casting process is a novel technique of producing high performance light weight parts which meet this objective. In this technique a water jet demolds the water soluble sand mold and subsequently impinges upon the solidifying metal, thereby producing high cooling rates in the casting which in turn leads to microstructural refinement and higher mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effect of various parameters involved in the casting of a thin walled part using the HiPerMag casting process for the wrought aluminum alloy AA 7050. The study is divided into three major parts that deal with the composition of the sand binder system, optimization of the sand mold thickness, various aspects of the water jet parameters and the desired microstructural parameters which will result in a defect free part. In first phase of the study, sand mold properties such as the green and dry strengths of the water soluble sand binder system used in the study were tested to ensure that they meet the molding requirements. An average green strength of 160 kPa and an average dry strength of 3825 kPa were found for the water soluble sand binder system. These values were similar to those reported in the literature for clay bonded sands and were sufficient to make molds for casting in the current study. Secondly, a heat transfer model was developed to find a minimum mold thickness required to design a mold for the HiPerMag casting process such that the liquid metal remained sufficiently insulated before being quenched. Based on the model, for a mold with a cope thickness of 12.9 cm, the heat flux losses to the surroundings were reduced by up to 90 % versus a case where a thinner mold was used. In addition, an analytical solution was derived for the mold thickness problem from which it was found that at a distance of 10 cm from the mold cavity there was a negligible increase in temperature of the sand at that location at large times. Further, the minimum mold thickness was determined based on the temperature profile in the sand mold during the HiPerMag casting process. This study showed that a thin mold of about 2 cm thickness was sufficient to provide insulation to the hot metal during the HiPerMag casting process. Thirdly, it was found that, based on cooling curve data and microstructural analysis, that a jet spacing of 15.3 cm and a time delay of 7.4 s between successive jet activations starting from the farthest jet (located near the edge of the casting), was necessary to obtain a single solidification front throughout the casting. This also ensured that grain size variation in the casting was less than 10 μm for having uniform mechanical properties. Also, it was found for a thin walled casting, the amount of solid present in the solidifying casting at the time of water jet impingement had a negligible effect on the movement of the solidification interface. Finally, the effect of jet momentum on surface defects was examined. It was determined that the maximum jet momentum resulting in no surface defects at temperatures close to the liquidus for Al AA 6061 alloy was approximately 2 kg.m/s. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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