X-ray microdensitometry analysis of vibration-welded wood

Abstract

X-ray microdensitometry tests on vibration-welded hardwoods (beech and oak) and a softwood (spruce) showed that adhesion of wood surfaces by vibration welding was accompanied by a considerable increase in the density of the wood at the bonded interface. This is due to the loss of the intercellular structure of the wood at the interface and considerable decrease of empty spaces in its cellular structure. The sharper and more regular is the increase in density at the interface the better is the mechanical performance of the joint. This was ascribed to the marked difference in wood density between earlywood and latewood. This intra-ring wood heterogeneity is a limiting factor for reaching high local compression rates during the welding process. In the case of spruce wood it causes cells collapse and, consequently, poorer bonding. Absolute and relative density maps of well-bonded, poorly-bonded and unbonded joints are reported. X-ray microdensitometry proved to be a valuable technique to determine the extent of wood welding.