d

FLIGHT.

DECEMBER 16,

1937.

{Continued from page a.) one is not so much restricted in the choice of sections owing to the lower specific weight of wood. Important for aircraft design is that wood, on account of its excellent elasticity, can be stressed up to the elastic limit without suffering any permanent change of shape. This is not the case with metal. The easy jointing of wood by gluing is always appreciated in aircraft construction, and by using a sufficiently large gluing area large forces can be transmitted. Furthermore, quick delivery, lower price and easy working are much in favour of wood, and, last but not least, the damping effect against noise and change of temperature is of decisive influence in giving wood preference over metal, provided its above-mentioned disadvantages have been eliminated. Different methods of improving wood have been suggested from time to time, but it is only recently that, out of many, a few ideas have materialised from which really practical results have been obtained. For the development of "Improved Wood," moistureJess synthetic resinous glues have been used. This material has proved entirely satisfactory for insulating the cells, and thus protecting the wood against atmospheric influences. Combined with a high adhesive quality, it was also found to be a superior glueing agent.

with thinner veneers, the pressure on which has a permanent effect, whereas with thicker veneers a tendency to rebound and to open the compressed cells remains. " I m proved Wood '' of thin veneers shows approximately 4 per cent, variation in mechanical characteristics compared with a 40 per cent, variation in natural wood. Stress calculations for "Improved W o o d " can, therefore, be carried out similarly as for metal. Climatic conditions hardly affect ' ' Improved Wood '' at all, the absorption of moisture without any kind of protection being only 6-7 per cent, after 50 hours' immersion in water. Comparative tests are easily made b y leaving a piece of natural wood and a piece of "Improved Wood" of the same size in water. After a few hours it will be noticeable t h a t the natural wood is distorted, while the '' Improved'' remains absolutely unaffected.

Two Methods
At present there are two methods of improving wood in practical use. In one method the synthetic resin is used as a filling material for the wood; comparatively thick plies are soaked in resinous material for some time before being pressed. The boards are precoated and t h e resinous material is allowed to fill the cells prior to application of pressure and heat in special dies. By the other method synthetic resinous material is used as a binding agent only, and is applied simultaneously with pressure and heat, without precoating or impregnating the wood. Thin veneers are more essential in this case so as to fill up the cells and destroy the porous character of the wood, thus making the impregnation more complete. By destroying the pores (as in the second method) a very thin synthetic resin film is required as glue only, the absorption of resin being reduced to a minimum. Owing to less resin in this case, the tensile and shear strength-weight ratio is better. The adhesion power is also better. The resistance to moisture absorption is equally good in either case. As can be seen, the manufacturing method has a considerable bearing on the physical properties of the material. " Improved Wood " of equal specific weight is not necessarily of similar physical character. The exact timing of pressure and heat is, in the improvement of wood, just as essential as in metal. The joining and scarfing of "Improved W o o d " not previously soaked is nearly as good as in natural wood. I t will be readily understood from the foregoing that, as the physical properties of the '' Improved W o o d ' ' can be varied, it is possible to give this material varying strength as and where desired.
1 1 1 ' 1 1 ,

"Improved

Wood"

The material described in this article has already been partly adopted in this country, b u t far more so in other countries, notably in Germany, for practical aircraft constructions. We do not, therefore, attempt to deal with other fibrous materials reinforced with a synthetic resin. The " Improved Wood," as we call our material, is built up of a number of thin veneers. Their thickness is decided in accordance with the required strength and density. The thinner the veneers the greater the degree of uniformity of material obtainable. I t is then made possible to spread knots or any other defects over a larger surface, thereby avoiding loss of strength and waste of timber. Furthermore, the thinner the veneers the greater the number of cells cut open and the larger the surface exposed to impregnation with synthetic resin. The thicker the veneers the higher the pressure requisite to close and fill the cells or pores. Although ' ' Improved W o o d ' ' built up of thinner veneers is more expensive, this is fully compensated for by the greater homogeneity and strength of material thus obtained. "Improved W o o d " of veneers thicker than 1 mm. is more apt to change its characteristics than wood xio*
2-9

ULTIMA TE STREN6TH

2-8 2-7

y 1

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XIO* 2S 22

28000

26000

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22000 20 20000

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18 17 !6

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transverse "bear para l/el

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1-0 II SPECIFIC GRAVITY

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1-0 H SPECIFIC 3RAVITY 1-2

Fig. 3. Left, Fig. 2, curves showing the var.ation of moduli of elasticity and rigidity with specific gravity. ultimate strength is improved.

Fig. 2.

On the right, Fig. 3 : How