Finger Jointing of Freshly Sawn Norway Spruce Side Boards – A Comparative Study of Fracture Properties of Joints Glued with Phenol-Resorcinol and One-Component Polyurethane Adhesive

Finger jointing of unseasoned Norway Spruce was studied with respect to tensile strength, adhesive penetration and durability. Finger joints were manufactured with 1) unseasoned wood and one component polyurethane (PUR) adhesive, 2) dried wood and PUR adhesive and 3) dried wood and phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) adhesive. Two levels of wood density were used. The tensile strength of the finger joints was determined and the deformations within the joint were studied with an optical measurement system (ARAMIS). The penetration of the adhesive was studied with x-ray microtomography. The durability of the joints was determined according to the standard ASTM D 4688. The results show that the tensile strength and the durability of green glued finger joints are on the same level as that of dry glued PUR joints. The penetration of the PUR adhesive is high in the unseasoned wood and cavities within the bonds seem to be smaller than in dry glued PUR joints. The tensile strength of the finger joints is dependent on density, independent on the adhesive system used. The strength of the green glued PUR adhesive bonds in finger joints measured with small scale specimens did not differ from the strength of the dry glued PUR bonds.