This work aims to evaluate the strength of joints bonded with thermosetting resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesive, as obtained from three radial and three longitudinal positions relative to the log in wood of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden (Myrtaceae) at age 18 years, and also to correlate it with basic density. The adhesive spread rate was 250 g/m² using double lines and adding hardener at a rate of one part of hardener to five parts of adhesive. Moisture content in the wood sheets at the time of bonding was 12%. Bonded joints were prepared according to standard ASTM D 2339-98. Basic density values showed an increasing tendency in the pith-to-bark direction while no significant variation was noted in the base-to-top direction. Higher mean values of shear strength and smaller percentages of wood failure were obtained from joints originated in positions close to the bark and to the log base. Overall, the bonding behavior of resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesive in Eucalyptus grandis was found to vary considerably in different positions relative to the log.
Eucalypt; bonded joints; thermosetting