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Explanation and Instructions

"Dividends From Wood Research" is a semiannual listing of recent publications resulting from wood utilization research at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL). These publications are produced to encourage and facilitate application of Forest Service research. This issue lists publications received between July 1 and December 31, 2005.

Each publication listed in this brochure is available through at least one of the following sources.

Available from FPL (indicated by an order number before the title of the publication): Quantities limited. Order by sending the item number and your complete mailing address.

Available through Internet: Listed publications are available as PDF documents for viewing or printing through links provided in this document.

Available through sales outlets: Major sales outlets are the Superintendent of Documents, the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), and various private publishers. Order directly from the outlet.

Available through libraries: Research publications are available through many public and university libraries in the United States and elsewhere. U.S. Government publications are also available through many Government Depository Libraries. Check with a major library near you to determine availability.

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Dividends from Wood Research

Recent Publications from July - December 2005

Biodiversity and Biosystematics of Fungi

Decay Processes and Bioprocessing

Durability

  • Condition Assessment of Timber Bridges: 2. Evaluation of Several Stress-Wave Tools (PDF 1.3 MB) Brashaw, Brian K.; Vatalaro, Robert J.; Wacker, James 2005. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-160. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 11 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fpl_gtr160.pdf
    This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of several stress-wave devices widely used for locating deteriorated areas in timber bridge members. Bridge components containing different levels of natural decay were tested using various devices. The specimens were then sawn (along their length) into slabs to expose their interior condition. The interior faces of these slabs were inspected visually and with a resistance micro-drill to confirm if deterioration was present. On the basis of these tests, we conclude that all four devices evaluated in this study can successfully be used to evaluate decay. There were, however, differences in the decay thresholds and user-friendliness among the devices.
  • Durability of Structural Lumber Products after Exposure at 82 C and 80% Relative Humidity (PDF 1.9 MB) Green, David W.; Evans, James W.; Hatfield, Cherilyn A.; Byrd, Pamela J. 2005. Research Paper FPL-RP-631. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 20 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fpl_rp631.pdf
    Solid-sawn lumber (Douglas-fir, southern pine, Spruce-Pine-Fir, and yellow-poplar), laminated veneer lumber (Douglas-fir, southern pine, and yellow-poplar), and laminated strand lumber (aspen and yellow-poplar) were heated continuously at 82 C (180 F) and 80% relative humidity (RH) for periods of up to 24 months. The lumber was then reconditioned to room temperature at 205% RH and tested in edgewise bending. Little reduction occurred in modulus of elasticity (MOE) of solid-sawn lumber, but MOE of composite lumber products was somewhat reduced. Modulus of rupture (MOR) of solid-sawn lumber was reduced by up to 50% after 24 months exposure. Reductions in MOR of up to 61% were found for laminated veneer lumber and laminated strand lumber after 12 months exposure. A limited scope study indicated that the results for laminated veneer lumber in edgewise bending are also applicable to flatwise bending. Comparison with previous results at 82 C (180 F)/25% RH and at 66 C (150 F)/20% RH indicate that differences in the permanent effect of temperature on MOR between species of solid-sawn lumber and between solid-sawn lumber and composite lumber products are greater at high humidity levels than at low humidity levels. This report also describes the experimental design of a program to evaluate the permanent effect of temperature on flexural properties of structural lumber, with reference to previous publications on the immediate effect of temperature and the effect of moisture content on lumber properties.
  • Treatability of Underutilized Northeastern Species with CCA and Alternative Wood Preservatives (PDF 542 KB) Lebow, Stan T.; Halverson, Steven A.; Hatfield, Cherilyn A. 2005. Research Note FPL-RN-0300. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 5 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fpl_rn300.pdf
    Opportunities for use of northeastern species such as balsam fir, eastern spruce, eastern hemlock, and red maple could be improved if these species could be adequately penetrated with preservatives and subsequently shown to be durable in outdoor exposures. In this study, specimens cut from lumber of northeastern species were pressure-treated with either chromated copper arsenate type C (CCA-C), ammoniacal copper citrate (CC), alkaline copper quat type C (ACQ-C), or copper azole type A (CBA-A). Treatability was assessed by measuring retention and penetration of preservative. The results indicate that the arsenic- and chromium-free alternatives to CCA-C can treat northeastern species at least as well as CCA-C and may offer treatability advantages over CCA-C in species such as eastern hemlock and balsam fir. Two species, red maple and eastern spruce, were not adequately treated with any preservative, even after incising. Above-ground and ground-contact durability evaluations with these preservative-wood species combinations are in progress.
  • Heat Sterilization Times of Five Hardwood Species (PDF 454 KB) Simpson, William; Wang, Xiping; Forsman, John; Erickson, John. 2005. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-626. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 10 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fpl_rp626.pdf
    Heat sterilization of lumber, timbers, and pallets is currently used to kill insects, thus preventing their transfer between countries in international trade. An important factor in this treatment is the time required for the center of any wood configuration to reach the temperature necessary to kill the insect. This study explored the effect of size (1-, 1.5-, and 2.0-in.-thick by 6-in.-wide boards, and 3- by 3-, 4- by 4-, and 6- by 6-in. timbers), hardwood species (red maple, sugar maple, red oak, basswood, and aspen), and two wet-bulb depressions (nominal 2�F and 8-10�F) at a nominal heating temperature of 160�F. Two analytical methods were examined for their ability to calculate estimated heating times. Heating times varied from about 15 min for 1- by 6-in. boards to 300 min for 6- by 6-in. timbers. Heating time was about 15% longer at the larger of the two wet-bulb depressions. Some species differences were significantly different statistically but were not different enough in practical terms to warrant heating separately. We found that the wet-bulb temperature could be used successfully in an analytical model as the heating temperature when evaporation of water cooled the surface below the nominal heating temperature.
  • Pennsylvania Hardwood Timber Bridges: Field Performance after 10 Years (PDF 191 KB) Wacker, James P.; Calil, Carlito Jr. 2004. In: Proceedings of the Structural Materials Technology VI, An NDT Conference, 14-17 September 2004. Buffalo, New York, USA. American Society for Nondestructive Testing: 222-227. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2004/fpl_2004_wacker002.pdf

General

Papermaking and Paper Recycling

Properties and Use of Wood, Composite, and Fiber Products

Recycling of Wood Products

Surface Chemistry

Timber and Fiber Demand and Technology Assessment

  • Fuel to Burn: Economics of Converting Forest Thinnings to Energy Using Biomax in Southern Oregon (PDF 2.2 MB) Bilek, E.M. (Ted); Skog, Kenneth E.; Fried, Jeremy; Christensen, Glenn. 2005. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-157. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 27 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fpl_gtr157.pdf
    Small-scale gasification plants that generate electrical energy from forest health thinnings may have the potential to deliver substantial amounts of electricity to the national grid. We evaluated the economic feasibility of two sizes of BioMax, a generator manufactured by the Community Power Corporation of Littleton, Colorado. At current avoided-cost electricity prices in Oregon, it would not be economical to operate a small-scale (100-kW) BioMax without a subsidy or tax credit, even if fuel were delivered to the plant at a forest landing at no cost. Given a tax credit, a 1,000-kW system could be operated profitably. If it were possible to sell merchantable logs (removed as part of forest health treatments) for an average of $175/thousand board feet, most acres on gentle slopes in southern Oregon would provide net operating surpluses. Most steeply sloped acres would generate operating deficits. If merchantable timber were sold separately, biomass from forest health thinnings on timberland in 15 western states could potentially provide from 2.3 to 14.3 billion kWh of electricity to the national grid. Our results suggest that if a forest landing is located near an existing power line, distributed energy generation is an option that may be worth considering.
  • U.S. Forest Products Annual Market Review and Prospects, 2001-2005 (PDF 586 KB) Howard, James L. 2005. Research Note FPL-RN-0299. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 11 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fpl_rn299.pdf
    This report provides general and statistical information on forest products markets in terms of production, trade, consumption, and prices. The current state of the United States economy is described. Market developments are described for sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, softwood log trade, wood-based panels, paper and paperboard, fuelwood, and forest products prices. Policy initiatives that can impact domestic markets and international trade in wood products are also discussed in some detail. Projections for the year 2005 are also presented.
  • Hampton Mill Maintains Title: Top Twelve Producer Mills Are in Northwest (PDF 43 KB) Spelter, Henry. 2004. Timber Processing, July/August 2004: 67. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2004/fpl_2004_spelter002.pdf
  • Profile 2005: Softwood Sawmills in the United States and Canada (PDF 5.5 MB) Spelter, Henry. 2005. Research Paper FPL-RP-630. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 85 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fpl_rp630.pdf
    The softwood lumber industry in the United States and Canada consists of about 1,068 sawmills. In 2005 these sawmills had a combined capacity of 189 million m3 (79.9 � 109 board feet) and employed about 99,000 people. In 2004 they produced 172 million m3 (nominal) (73.0 � 109 board feet) of lumber and, in the process, consumed about 280 million m3 (9.9 � 109 ft3) of timber. Employee productivity was near 2,125 m3 (900,000 board feet) per worker per year for dimension and stud mills but about half that for board, timber, and specialty mills. Average saw log size varied from 48 cm (19 in.) in British Columbia to 15 cm (6 in.) in the boreal region of eastern Canada. Average lumber recovery factors varied from 274 board feet per cubic meter (7.75 board feet per cubic foot) for timber mills to 234 (6.6 board feet per cubic foot) for specialty mills. The average for dimension mills was 266 (7.5 board feet per cubic foot). Strong underlying demand for housing, supported by demographic growth among young adults, and by generational low interest rates are strong positives for the industry's prospects. Low interest rates, however, are threatened by rising inflation, the measurement of which depends on whether new home prices are included or not.
  • Review of Alternative Measures of Softwood Sawtimber Prices in the United States (PDF 1.2 MB) Spelter, Henry. 2005. Research Paper FPL-RP-629. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 16 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fpl_rp629.pdf T
    his study compares prices from various timber market reports and an estimate of timber value derived from product-selling prices and manufacturing costs. In the South, two primary sources of timber price information are Forest2Market (F2M) and Timber Mart-South (TMS). Comparisons showed that F2M prices are generally higher than TMS prices for both stumpage and delivered timber. Residual value (RV) estimates tended to vary from these at any given time. Over 5 years, however, the negative and positive deviations largely offset each other, resulting in roughly the same average price levels, at least compared with TMS. The RV estimates also tended to lead the direction of reported prices and were useful as leading indicators of reported market price directions. Comparison of various price reports from public and private agencies in the West showed that Forest Service prices were substantially lower than those recorded by other agencies and RV calculations. The discounts appear to reflect lower quality offerings and more restrictive harvest regulations that increase harvest costs. This report proposes a method of pricing timber based on RV calculations as one means to reduce the variability in lumber sawmilling profits.

Wood Chemistry

  • Time- and Cost-Saving Apparatus for Analytical Sample Filtration (PDF 263 KB) Kenealy, William R.; Destree, Joseph C. 2005. Research Note FPL-RN-0298. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 2 p. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fpl_rn298.pdf
    Simple and cost-effective protocols were developed for removing particulates from samples prior to analysis by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. A filter and vial holder were developed for use with a 96-well filtration plate. The device saves preparation time and costs.

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