WOOD QUALITY RESEARCH ON HYBRID POPLAR IN QUEBEC, CANADA. Ahmed KOUBAA Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

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1 WOOD QUALITY RESEARCH ON HYBRID POPLAR IN QUEBEC, CANADA Ahmed KOUBAA Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

2 PLAN Introduction Outline of the wood quality Research in Quebec Research partners Case studies on hybrid poplar wood quality Overview of projects on processing hybrid poplar wood

3 Yield (m 3 /hectare/year) INTRODUCTION Since 1969, Quebec s MNR has been actively breeding and selecting hybrid poplar clones for growth, adaptability to the climatic conditions, and wood quality. Quebec s genetic improvement program of poplar emphasized on hybridized populations using 5 species: P. balsamifera, deltoides, maximowiczii, nigra, trichocarpa (Périnet et al. 2007) More than 40 hybrid poplar clones were recommended for planting in Quebec because of their adaptability to the environment and fast growth (Périnet et al. 2007). Hybrid poplars showed the greatest potential for fast growth & biomass production compared to other species Anticipated yields (Messier et al. 2003): Best sites 20 m 3 /ha yr Average sites: 14 m 3 /ha.yr Boreal sites10 m 3 /ha yr Their ability to rapidly produce fiber is a significant economic contribution White spruce Norway Spruce 7 7 Easten larch 10 Exotic larches 12 Hybrid poplar 3

4 INTRODUCTION Poplars are important species as fiber for pulp and paper and as solid wood for lumber and engineered wood products. Poplar wood is well suited for fiber particle, flake, and strand-based composites due to its low density, ease of cutting, low processing cost and availability. Hybrid poplar wood showed high potential as raw material for all these applications and other applications namely: Pulp and paper Oriented Strand board (OSB), Oriented Strand lumber (OSL), Veneer, plywood, laminated veneer (LVL) Pallets and packaging materials Furniture Wood polymer composites. Source: American Engineered Wood Association Source: American Engineered Wood Association Source: American Engineered Wood Association Source: Nexwood Ltd Source FPInnovations, Forintek Division (Source B.C. Ministry of Forests 1998) 4

5 INTRODUCTION «Réseau Ligniculture Québec», created in 2001, is a Network that regroups more than 60 scientists, professionals, government officers and industrials from the provenance of Quebec implicated in research of all aspects of hybrid poplar (silviculture, ecology, growth, health and wood quality). The first research program on the wood quality of hybrid poplar clones was initiated at the wood science department at Laval University (M. Beaudoin, J. Poliquin, Y. Fortin, A. Koubaa et R. Hernàndez): Wood properties. Other research groups conducted projects on hybrid poplar wood quality: Valade et al : Pulp and paper quality Zhang et al : Veneer and wood properties : Laval University, Canadian forest Service and Forintek (Bousquet, Beaulieu, Zhang et al.): Genetic control of wood properties Fortin, Koubaa, Cloutier, Hernàndez, Périnet et al : Properties variation, Genetic and phenotypic correlations, Drying, Machining, MDF manufacturing,, 5

6 INTRODUCTION Wood quality of hybrid poplar Wood quality is defined in terms of specific end-uses and involves several properties Hybrid poplar is characterized by fast growth Large range of variation in wood properties Mainly juvenile wood Low density and low mechanical properties Large diameter with low taper Thin cell walls Large range of fiber length but within the same range of that reported for poplars Large knots if not pruned at early age 6

7 OBJECTIVE The objective is to present results of studies on the wood quality of hybrid poplar conducted in Quebec Canada in the last 25 years: Interclonal, intraclonal and within tree variation of wood properties of 10 Populus x euramericana clones, Variation in wood anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of hybrid poplar clones Study of the physical and mechanical properties of Hardened hybrid poplar wood Overview of projects on processing hybrid poplar wood 7

8 INTERCLONAL, INTRACLONAL AND WITHIN TREE VARIATION OF WOOD PROPERTIES OF 10 P. X EURAMERICANA CLONES 8 A. Koubaa, R. Hernández, M. Beaudoin, Jean Poliquin

9 MATERIALS AND METHODS 10 P. x euramericana 9-years old clones grown in 1 site in Quebec Up to 4 trees per clone 4 heights: 0,5, 1,5, 3 and 4,5 m Rings 2, 4, 6, 8 from pith Properties: Wood density (Beaudoin et al Mechanical properties (Hernandez et al. 1997) Fiber length (Koubaa et al. 1998) Shrinkage (Koubaa et al. 1998) 9

10 RESULTS : WOOD DENSITY Species or hybrid Density (kg/m 3 ) P. x euramericana Balsam poplar Aspen Eastern cottonwood Beaudoin et al. 1992

11 RESULTS : FIBER LENGTH Species or hybrid FL (mm) P. x euramericana Balsam poplar Aspen Eastern cottonwood Koubaa et al. 1998

12 RESULTS : SHRINKAGE Species or hybrid Total Shrinkage (%) P. x euramericana 12.8 Balsam poplar Aspen 11.5 Eastern cottonwood Koubaa et al. 1998

13 RESULTS: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES 13 Hernández et al. 1998

14 VARIATION IN WOOD ANATOMICAL, PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HYBRID POPLAR CLONES 14 A.SM Azmul Huda, Ahmed Koubaa, R. Hernández, Alain Cloutier, Yves Fortin, Pierre Périnet

15 OBJECTIVES The general objective was to investigate the variation on the wood properties of hybrid poplar clones grown in three sites in Quebec. The specific objectives of this study were: 1) To investigate site, clonal, and within-tree variations in selected anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of hybrid poplar clones 2) To estimate the genotypic and the phenotypic interactions among wood anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties 3) Discuss the implications of these variations and relationships on hybrid poplar breeding programs for wood quality. 15

16 MATERIAL AND METHODS Sampling Investigated hybrid poplar wood Clones code Species cross 131 Populus deltoides x P. nigra 3230 P. trichocarpa x P. deltoides 3565 P. deltoides x P. nigra 3570 P. deltoides x P. nigra 3586 P. deltoides x P. nigra 4813 P. deltoides x P. nigra (P. deltoides x P. nigra) x P. maximowiczii 3 sites from Southern Quebec Pointe Platon Saint-Ours Windsor 7 clones of 15 years of age 5 trees per clones were sampled 16

17 MATERIAL AND METHODS Samples preparation Schematic diagram illustrating the procedures of sample preparation 17

18 MATERIAL AND METHODS Measurements Anatomical properties Leica compound microscope (DM 1000) with image analysis stem WinCell 2004a was used to measure fiber and tension wood proportion Physical properties Density and volumetric shrinkage (ASTM D ) Mechanical properties Flexural strength (ASTM D ) Compression strength (ASTM D ) Anatomical properties measurement 18 Mechanical properties measurements Physical properties measurement

19 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Site variation Clonal variation Phenotypic correlations Genetic correlations Comparisons between phenotypic & genetic correlations Heritability and genetic gains

20 Tension wood(%) Proportion (%) Fibre wall thickness (µm) SITE VARIATION: ANATOMICAL PROPERTIES Fibre Vessel 2,8 2,6 2,4 40 2, ,8 1, Platon St-Ours Windsor 1,4 1,2 1 Platon St-Ours Windsor All Anatomical wood properties of hybrid poplar clones varied with site. 34 Platon St-Ours Windsor 20

21 Flexural MOE (MPa) Compression MOE (MPa) Density (kg/m 3 ) Volumetric Shrinkage (%) SITE VARIATION: PHYSICAL & MECHANICAL PROPERTIES 365 8, , , , , , , ,8 315 Platon St-Ours Windsor 6,6 Platon St-Ours Windsor Platon St-Ours Windsor 2000 Platon St-Ours Windsor

22 CLONAL VARIATION Anatomical properties Physical properties Mechanical properties Clone FP (%) VP (%) FWT (µm) TW (%) Density (kg/m 3 ) VSH (%) F. MOE (MPa) // C. MOE (MPa) C 26.2 D 2.4 C 36.2 C 340 B 8.3 B 7007 AB 4352 C E 29.3 B 2.1 E 37.1 C 338 B 8.3 B 7023 AB 4205 D A 24.1 F 2.5 B 44.1 B 368 A 7.9 BC 7483 A 4754 A D 30,0 A 2.2 E 35.1 C 344 B 7.4 CD 6965 AB 4458 B E 28.9 D 2.5 BC 35.7 C 329 B 7.6 CD 6597 B 4327 C B 24.5 E 2.7 A 47.8 A 378 A 8.9 A 7523 A 4692 A F 29.4 B 2.3 D 35.8 C 332 B 7.2 D 7289 AB 4273 CD Average± se 55.9± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± 530 The clone effect was highly significant for all studied properties 22

23 PHENOTYPIC & GENETIC CORRELATIONS FP VP FWT TW BD VSH F. MOE F. MOR // CS s FP ** 0.53 ** 0.30 ** 0.44 ** 0.19 ns 0.31 ** 0.53 ** 0.41 ** VP ** ** ** ** ns ** ** FWT ** 0.34 ** 0.17 ns 0.15 ns 0.37 ** 0.33 * TW ** 0.19 ns 0.23 * 0.53 ** 0.38 ** BD ** 0.42 ** 0.61 ** 0.80 ** VSH * ns 0.24 ** 0.30 ** F. MOE ** 0.51 ** F. MOR ** ** // CS Upper italic phenotypic correlation, Lower genetic correlations Environmental impacts weaken the phenotypic correlation 23

24 HERITABILITY AND GENETIC GAIN ESTIMATES* Broad sense heritability Genetic gain Anatomical properties Fiber length Wall thickness Lumen diameter Fiber diameter Vessel diameter Fiber proportion Vessel proportion Ray proportion Cell wall area Physical properties Density Volumetric Shrinkage Longitudinal shrinkage Radial shrinkage Tangential shrinkage Mechanical properties Flexural MOE Flexural MOR // Compressive strength * Data from Huda et al. 2014, 2014

25 CONCLUSIONS Anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties of hybrid poplar clones were measured and results were analyzed for phenotypic genetic parameters estimations: Hybrid poplar properties varied with sites and clone effect was highly significant. Variation in anatomical properties explained that of density: Clones with higher density had higher fiber proportion, thicker cell walls, and lower vessel proportion. Phenotypic & genetic correlations between fiber properties and density were strong. Correlations between wood density and mechanical properties were moderate at the phenotypic level and strong at the genotypic level. Genotypic correlations for all wood components were higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlations The highest broad sense heritability values were found for fiber properties and mechanical properties The highest genetic gains could be achieved through proper clones selection for longitudinal shrinkage and mechanical properties 25

26 STUDY OF THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HARDENED HYBRID POPLAR WOOD 26 Wei-Dan Ding, Ahmed Koubaa, Abdelkader Chaala

27 OBJECTIVES The general objective was to investigate opportunities to use hybrid poplar wood for high-value applications. Specific objectives were: Evaluate the effect of MMA hardening on the density and surface properties of hybrid poplar wood; Understand the interaction between hybrid poplar wood structure and the MMA monomer; Study the interclonal variation of density and surface properties of hardened and non-hardened hybrid poplar wood. 27

28 MATERIALS 24 trees from 6 hybrid poplar clones (6-year-old), grown in Québec, Canada Clones Species cross P. maximowiczii balsamifera (MxB) P. maximowiczii balsamifera (MxB) P. maximowiczii balsamifera (MxB) P. maximowiczii balsamifera (MxB) 3729 P. nigra maximowiczii (NxB) 3531 P. deltoides nigra (DxN) 28 Chemical: (MMA) Low viscosity Cheap & available Catalyst: Vazo 52 (0.5 % by weight) 1.22 m 1.22 m upper log Bottom log

29 METHODS Hardening Process Impregnation Polymerisation Temperature ( C) Pressure (kpa) 10 Time (min) 20 Temperature ( C) 70 Pressure (kpa) 690 Time (h) 4 29

30 METHODS Characterization Density ASTM D X-Ray densitometer Microstructure SEM:Hitachi microscope Janka Hardness ASTM D Abrasion resistance ASTM D 4060 CS-17 Taber Abrader SEM X-ray densitometer Zwick/Roell Z020 Taber Abrader 30

31 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Microstructure of hardened wood Impact of hardening on physical properties Impact of hardening on mechanical properties

32 MICROSTRUCTURE OF HARDENED WOOD a) b) 1 2 SEM of a) Untreated hybrid poplar wood; b) MMA hardened hybrid poplar wood. Arrows indicate 1) absence of attachment of PMMA to wood tissue 2) incompletely filled cell with PMMA. Low degree of interaction between MMA monomer and wood surface. 32

33 Density (kg/m 3 ) Density (kg/m 3 ) IMPACT OF HARDENING ON DENSITY 900 Control Hardened MxB MxB 3729 NxM MxB MxB 3531 DxN Control Hardened Thickness (%) 33

34 Polymer retention (%) Polymer retention (%) DENSITY AND POLYMER RETENTION R² = 0, Hybrid Poplar White Ash Silver Maple White Cedar Red Oak Quacking Aspen Clone Clone Clone 3729 Clone Clone Clone Density (kg/m 3 ) R² = 0, Density (kg/m 3 ) Relationship between polymer retention and density in) hybrid poplar clones; and different wood species 50 Polymer retention decreases with increasing initial wood density. 34

35 Swelling (%) IMPACT OF HARDENING ON SWELLING 12 Control Hardened MxB MxB 3729 NxM MxB MxB 3531 DxN 0 Clone 35

36 Hardness (N) IMPACT OF HARDENING ON JANKA HARDNESS 8000 Control Hardened MxB MxB 3729 NxM Clone MxB MxB 3531 DxN Comparison of hardness before and after hardening for different clone. 36

37 Hardness (N) Hardness (N) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WOOD DENSITY AND HARDNESS Hybrid poplar Aspen White cedar White ash Red oak Silver maple R² = 0, Hybrid poplar Hardened hybrid poplar Aspen Hardened Aspen R² = 0,93 R² = 0, Density (kg/m 3 ) Density (kg/m 3 ) 37

38 Wear index ( %) IMPACT OF HARDENING ON ABRASION RESISTANCE 0,8 0,6 0,4 Control Treated 0,2 0, Abrasion cycles Wear index increases with abrasion cycles, and hardening has a positive effect on wear index; effect becomes slightly weaker with increasing abrasion cycles. 38

39 MOE in compression (MPa) MOE in bending (MPa) IMPACT OF HARDENING ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES 6000 Control Hardened MxB MxB 3729 NxM MxB MxB 3531 DxN Control Hardened MxB MxB 3729 NxM MxB MxB 3531 DxN

40 CONCLUSIONS The hardening of hybrid poplar wood through MMA impregnation improved its density and surface properties: PMMA mainly fill the void spaces in the wood structure; The densities of all poplar clones were increased by 120% to160%; Janka hardness was 2.5 to 4 times higher in treated than untreated poplar wood; Hardened wood also exhibited superior abrasion resistance compared to controls; MMA-hardened hybrid poplar wood was comparable to some natural hardwoods. The physical and mechanical properties of hardened wood was clone dependent. 40

41 OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS ON PROCESSING HYBRID POPLAR WOOD 41

42 OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS ON PROCESSING HYBRID POPLAR WOOD Processing for pulp and paper (J. Valade, UQTR): Large variation in pulp properties among 15 tested clones. Processing for Veneer (S. Y. Zhang, G. Chauret, A. Koubaa, Forintek): Variation in veneer quality; Veneer quality of best clones is comparable to that of Aspen Drying (Fortin, Xing, Hernández) Variability in drying quality among clones and drying process Sawing and drying (Koubaa, Samson): Large proportion of low quality grades / Variation among clones, SDR process minimises drying defect Machining (Hernández, Costantineau, Fortin): Very good machining properties, variation among clones, significant of tension wood on some machining properties Steam Bending (Kuljich, Cáceres, Hernández) MDF Panels (Vaucher, Koubaa, Riedl; Shi, Riedl, Zhang) MDF met all standards. Variation in MDF properties due to the clone. 42

43 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Canada Research Chair Program Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies (FQRNT) Ministère du développement économique, de l innovation et de l exportation du Québec (MDEIE) The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) Réseau Ligniculture Québec (RLQ) Chaire CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en AFD Tembec Centre de recherche sur le bois (CRB) Université Laval 43