Structural Characterization of the Variable Uptake and Distribution of Impregnation Fluids in Fast-Growing Poplar Hybrids

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Holger Militz
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Biomaterials ; Forestry
• Term: from 2015 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 275616905

Due to the steadily increasing availability of hardwoods, hardwoods will continuously gain economic and scientific interest in future. In addition to forest-relevant wood species, fast-growing wood species for agroforestry purposes, such as poplar, are becoming increasingly available to the wood-based industry. In outdoor applications, however, many hardwood species have a low durability against biological degradation. A fundamental prerequisite for the protection of the wood applied is a deep and homogeneous impregnation with wood preservatives or modification agents. However, many hardwoods reveal often an improper and uneven penetration and distribution of impregnation fluids. Up to now, the cause of this has not been completely researched yet. Therefore, this research project investigates by means of different hydrides of poplar, which anatomical causes (e.g. reaction wood, tyloses, cell parameters) lead to the uneven distribution on the macroscopic and microscopic level during impregnation. To answer that samples are impregnated with a solution, containing a fluorescent dye (i.e. Rhodamine B), and examined through light and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the poplar anatomy and the distribution of a lumen-filling impregnation chemical (i.e. methacrylate) are analyzed three-dimensionally by means of micro-computed tomography.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants