Study of the forming processes of the arbolite structure during the chemical activation of flax shove

As one of the ways of directed formation of structures in arbolite (wood concrete), the use of properties of organic additive might serve. A capillary-porous, chemically active material is used for this purpose. The structure of capillaries and pores determines the perspective of directed mass transfer within the "binding substance-additive" system, and the chemical activity of flax shove fibers can replace the physical bonds of the components with stronger ones, the chemical bonds. To determine the ways of modification of the additive, an aqueous solution of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO₄·0.5H₂O) was applied along with liquid glass. The substantiation of the chemistry of the processes occurring in the wood-cement compositions during their strengthening was given. Analysis of the dynamics of strengthening of the material has shown that as a result of the chemical activation of flax fibers, the internal structure of capillaries and pores experience colmatage, which inhibits water absorption inside them, and also stronger bonds of flax fibers with cement stone are formed. With the application of the proposed technology, the compressive strength of arbolite increases almost 1.4 times, and the strength under transverse bending increases 1.6 times. (paper)