Structural, physical and mechanical properties of modified wood-magnesia composite

The results of research about the structural, physical and mechanical properties of wood-magnesia composites based on magnesium binder (caustic magnesia) and filler of wood sawdust modified with chemical industry waste fluorine anhydrite (fluoranhydrite) are described. It was found that during the hydration of caustic magnesia containing fluorine anhydrite additive in composition with magnesium chloride, magnesium oxychlorides with different morphologies are formed depending on the initial components. The structure examination after 9 years of products maintenance showed the intensive carbonization of caustic magnesia hydration products with the formation of magnesium hydroxycarbonates that caused the increase of the material density, strength, water resistance and decrease of the wood-magnesia constructional beam creeping deformations. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.