With the increased awareness of thermal insulation of buildings, the knowledge of thermal conductivity of non-structural materials applied for roughing, cladding or flooring has become more important. The objective of this study was to investigate the thermal conductivity of 31 different wood species originated from the region of Izmir in Turkey. Thermal conductivity of air dried boards was determined in accordance to ASTM 5334 standard which measures this property on the interior of wood rather than on the surface. Thermal conductivity varied from 0.090 to 0.197 W/mK. The highest thermal conductivity was obtained for oak and the lowest for Canadian poplar. A linear relation was obtained between wood density and thermal conductivity.

The aim of this study was to produce mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) wood flour filled polypropylene (both recycled and virgin) composites and to determine the effects of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) on the interfacial compatibility, density, and other mechanical properties of the resulting composites. Approximately 40 wt% of mahogany wood flour, and 60 wt% of polypropylene, 3 wt% of MAPP, 1.5 wt% of zinc stearate, and 1.5 wt% of wax were used during composite manufacturing. Test specimens were manufactured using extrusion and injection molding processes. The flexural, tensile, impact, and hardness properties of all specimens were determined. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology and interfacial compatibility of the filler in prepared composites. The test results showed that MAPP use and the filler rates affected the density and mechanical properties of test specimens.

Neat polypropylene (PP)- and post-industrial recycled polypropylene (rPP)-based wood-plastic composites (WPC) were manufactured using 40% mahogany wood flour (WF). The effect of particle size (0.074 to 0.149 mm, 0.177 to 0.250 mm, and 0.400 to 0.841 mm) on the selected properties of PP and rPP composites was studied. The influence of 3% maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) presence in the formulation was also evaluated. Test specimens were manufactured using a combination of extrusion and injection molding processes. The density and mechanical properties, such as flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, hardness and impact strength values were determined. Morphology of the manufactured composites was also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Results showed that the particle size, polypropylene type (neat or recycled), and presence of MAPP had important effects on WPC’s properties. Density, flexural modulus, tensile modulus, and impact strength values increased with decreased particle size regardless of the presence of MAPP. Flexural strength values increased with decreased particle size without MAPP. Regardless of particle size, addition of MAPP in composites provided higher flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength, and tensile modulus values but lower elongation at break values compared to composites without MAPP.

The effects of lignocellulosic filler type and filler loading levels were investigated relative to selected properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based composites. Teak wood (TK), rice husks (RH), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were used as lignocellulosic fillers at 15 wt% and 30 wt% filler loading levels. Test specimens were manufactured using both extrusion and injection molding, except for abrasion resistance samples that were manufactured using a compression molding process. Density, tensile, flexural, and impact properties, and hardness and abrasion resistance values, of the specimens were determined. The composites’ morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy analysis; results showed all filler types and filler loading levels were affected by the TPU’s density and mechanical properties. The TPU composites were successfully produced using TK, RH, and MCC as lignocellulosic fillers. Regardless of filler type, addition of 15% filler to TPU yielded excellent mechanical properties. With 30% MCC filler, composite properties increased due to their higher surface area, while properties of TK- and RH-containing specimens were, at 30%, reduced. There was a proportional correlation between hardness and modulus, with both increasing with a rising filler loading level. Abrasion resistance of TPU decreased with the presence of filler. Regardless of filler type, abrasion resistance continued to drop at higher filler loading levels. Scanning electron micrographs showed better MCC distribution in the TPU matrix.

Mulberry wood is used in carpentry, fences, turnery, and garden architecture. In this study, various mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, Janka hardness, and screw holding resistance) of mulberry (Morus alba) wood and its weathering performance after applying 3- and 5-layer UV system parquet varnishes with different surface applications were investigated. The varnished materials were aged using UV lamps for 252 h and 504 h, and the aged specimens were compared with non-aged specimens. The results of the variance analyses found that all tests were significant. According to the results, it was found that while the yellow color (b*) tone value, lightness, and glossiness (perpendicular (⊥) and parallel (║) direction at 20°, 60°, and 85° angles) values decreased for both varnish applications, the pendulum hardness value increased. The adhesion strength (pull-off) test (MPa) to the surface first decreased and then increased.