Investigation on bonding quality of beech wood (Fagus orientalis L.) veneer during high temperature drying and aging

In the present study, the effects of high drying temperature and UV light induced aging on bonding quality of plywood manufactured from untreated and treated veneer layers were investigated. Rotary cut veneers with dimensions of 500 mm×500 mm×2 mm produced from beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) log were selected for topochemical, chemical and mechanical analyses. The veneer sheets were oven-dried at 100°C and 180°C after the peeling process. Afterwards, the surfaces were exposed to artificial UV irradiation in an UV chamber for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h representing natural sun irradiation of 2, 4 and 6 months, respectively. Topochemical distribution of lignin and phenolic extractives of the treated and untreated veneers was investigated on a cellular level using UV microspectrophotometry (UMSP). For the chemical characterization of accessory compounds high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used. Furthermore, the shear and bending strengths of plywood manufactured from the treated samples are determined in order to study the bonding quality. The UV microscopic detection shows that after high drying temperature and aging treatment, lignin condensation occurs. With increasing drying temperature and aging duration, more phenolic extractives are situated in parenchyma cells and vessel lumens which can be proved by increased absorbance at 278 nm. The HPLC analysis of the treated tissue showed distinct signals of polymerized compounds such as catechin and 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone which are chromophoric compounds in discolored beech wood. The mechanical properties of plywood showed that with increasing drying temperature up to 180°C does not negatively affect shear and bending strengths of samples. After exposure of the veneers to UV irradiation (especially 6 months), decreasing shear and bending strengths of plywood samples can be observed.