Compressive strength of hardwood-cement composites

The feasibility of using selected hardwoods and a hardwood pulp in wood-cement composites was investigated by determining the effects of hydration time, mild chemical modification, and the cement-to-wood ratio. The results indicated that as hydration time increased, the compressive strength increased. Some of the inhibition to hydration attributed to hardwoods may be overcome with longer hydration periods. Mild chemical modification provided some improvements in the compressive strength values for acetic acid and sodium hydroxide red oak wood-cement composites compared to unmodified red oak wood-cement composites. The effects of chemical modification on compressive strength depended on the hardwood species. As the cement-to-wood ratio decreased, the compressive strength of the wood-cement composite decreased