Determining, Balancing and Controlling of Pitch and White Pitch at Stora Enso Kabel Production Line 4

Työn ensimmäisenä tarkoituksena oli kartoittaa kiinteä-neste ja neste-neste uuttomenetelmillä pihkan ja valkopihkan määrä Stora Enso Kabelin tuotantolinja 4:llä. Työn kannalta oli myöstärkeää saada selvyys saostumien koostumuksesta. Lopullinen päämäärä oli automatisoida fiksatiivin annostelu uuden, jatkuvatoimisen märänpäänanalysaattorin avulla. Mäntyosuuden kasvattaminen hiokemassassa lisää hydrofobisten partikkeleiden lukumäärää, minkä uskotaan lisäävän saostumariskiä. Työtä varten kehitetty neste-neste uuttomenetelmä, jota ei ole liiemmin paperiteollisuudessa käytetty, voi olla hyvä menetelmä lipofiilisten komponenttien määrän arviointiin tietyssä määrässä massa- tai prosessivesinäytettä. Virtaussytometri-menetelmän avulla tutkittiin pihka- tai valkopihkapartikkeleiden määrää ja kokojakaumaa eri prosessinäytteissä. Virtaussytometri-menetelmällä mitattujen valkopihkapartikkeleiden lukumäärän ja päällystetyn hylyn saostimen suodoksen sameuden välille löytyiselvä korrelaatio. Fiksatiivimäärän vaikutusta päällystetyn hylyn saostimen suodoksen sameuteen tutkittiin koeajojaksolla, jossa fiksatiivin annostelua säädettiin käsin. Käytetyt annosmäärät eivät riittäneet sameuden pitämiseen tasaisena matalalla tasolla.

The pH-dependent phase distribution of wood pitch components in papermaking processes

Wood contains only a very small amount of lipophilic extractives, commonly known as wood pitch. The pitch is known to cause severe problems in papermaking processes. The amount of pitch in process waters can be decreased by seasoning of the raw material prior to pulping, pulp washing, removal of pitch by flotation, adsorption of pitch onto various mineral surfaces, and retention of pitch to the fibre material by cationic polymers. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pH on some of the methods used for pitch control. Experiments were performed using laboratory-made wood pitch emulsions with varying pH, salt concentration, hemicellulose concentration and pitch composition. These emulsions were used to study the phase distribution of resin and fatty acids, the colloidal stability of pitch with and without steric stabilisation by galactoglucomannans, and the interactions between wood pitch and mineral particles. Purification of unbleached and peroxidebleached mill process water was performed by froth flotation in combination with a foaming agent. The distribution of resin and fatty acids (RFAs) between colloidal pitch droplets and the water phase was very dependent on pH. At pH 3, almost all of the RFAs were attached to the pitch droplets, while increasing the pH led to increasing concentration of dissolved RFAs in the water phase. The presence of salt shifted the release of RFAs towards higher pH, while lower ratio of neutral pitch in the emulsion resulted in release of RFAs at lower pH. It was also seen that the dissolution and adsorption of RFAs at sudden pHchanges takes place very quickly. Colloidal pitch was more stable against electrolyte-induced aggregation at higher pH, due to its higher anionic charge. The concentration of cationic polymers needed to aggregate colloidal pitch also increased with increasing pH. The surface characteristics of solid particles, such as amount of charged groups, were very important for understanding their interactions with colloidal wood pitch. Water-soluble galactoglucomannans stabilised the colloidal pitch sterically against aggregation, but could not completely prevent interactions between wood pitch and hydrophilic particles. Froth flotation of unbleached and peroxidebleached process water showed that the pitch could be removed more effectively and selectively at low pH, compared to at neutral pH. The pitch was removed more effectively, using lower concentrations of foaming agent, from peroxide-bleached water than from unbleached water. The results show that pH has a major impact on various pulping and papermaking processes. It determines the anionic charge of the colloidal pitch and the solubility of certain pitch components. Because of this, the pH influences the effectiveness of pitch retention and removal of pitch. The results indicate that pitch problems could be diminished by acknowledging the importance of pH in various papermaking processes.

Monolithic zirconium dioxide as a full contour restorative material: With special emphasis on the optical and mechanical properties

Full contour monolithic zirconia restorations have shown an increased popularity in the dental field over the recent years, owing to its mechanical and acceptable optical properties. However, many features of the restoration are yet to be researched and supported by clinical studies to confirm its place among the other indirect restorative materials This series of in vitro studies aimed at evaluating and comparing the optical and mechanical properties, light cure irradiance, and cement polymerization of multiple monolithic zirconia material at variable thicknesses, environments, treatments, and stabilization. Five different monolithic zirconia materials, four of which were partially stabilized and one fully stabilized were investigated. The optical properties in terms of surface gloss, translucency parameter, and contrast ratio were determined via a reflection spectrophotometer at variable thicknesses, coloring, sintering method, and after immersion in an acidic environment. Light cure irradiance and radiant exposure were quantified through the specimens at variable thicknesses and the degree of conversion of two dual-cure cements was determined via Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Bi-axial flexural strength was evaluated to compare between the partially and fully stabilized zirconia prepared using different coloring and sintering methods. Surface characterization was performed using a scanning electron microscope and a spinning disk confocal microscope. The surface gloss and translucency of the zirconia investigated were brand and thickness dependent with the translucency values decreasing as the thickness increased. Staining decreased the translucency of the zirconia and enhanced surface gloss as well as the flexural strength of the fully stabilized zirconia but had no effect on partially stabilized zirconia. Immersion in a corrosive acid increased surface gloss and decreased the translucency of some zirconia brands. Zirconia thickness was inversely related to the amount of light irradiance, radiant exposure, and degree of monomer conversion. Type of sintering furnace had no effect on the optical and mechanical properties of zirconia. Monolithic zirconia maybe classified as a semi-translucent material that is well influenced by the thickness, limiting its use in the esthetic zones. Conventional acid-base reaction, autopolymerizing and dual-cure cements are recommended for its cementation. Its desirable mechanical properties give it a high potential as a restoration for posterior teeth. However, close monitoring with controlled clinical studies must be determined before any definite clinical recommendations can be drawn.

Pohjaöljyn käsittely

Diplomityön tarkoituksena oli tutkia Naantalin jalostamolle soveltuvaa pohjaöljyn käsittely-yksikköä syntyvän raskaan polttoöljyn määrän vähentämiseksi. Kirjallisuusosassa tutkittiin eri prosessivaihtoehtoja pohjaöljyn käsittelylle. Prosesseista selvitettiin käytettävät syötöt, prosessiolosuhteet, saatavat tuotteet ja niiden saannot sekä prosessin investointi- ja käyttökustannukset. Lisäksi tutkittiin tuotteiden käyttökohteita ja niiden vaatimia jatkokäsittelyjä. Työn tutkimusosassa valittiin tarkasteltavaksi prosessiksi ylikriittinen uutto, deasfaltointi. Työssä tarkasteltiin uuttoyksikön eri kytkentävaihtoehtoja Naantalin jalostamolle ja valittiin käytettävät uuttoprosentit ja liuottimet. Yksiköstä saataville tuotteille laskettiin aineominaisuudet. Deasfaltoidun öljyn käsittelyyn suunnitelluille katalyyttisille krakkausyksiköille tehtiin saantoarviot ja laskettiin massataseet. Deasfaltointiyksikön pohjatuotteena saatavan asfalteenirikasteen jatkokäsittelyssä tutkittiin bitumin, raskaan ja erikoisraskaan polttoöljyn sekä bitumikomponentin valmistusta. Vaihtoehdoista laskettiin massataseet ja tuotteiden aineominaisuudet. Prosessivaihtoehdoista tehtiin kannattavuustarkastelu vuotuisten käyttökatteiden perusteella, joita verrattiin nykyiseen jalostamorakenteeseen perustuvaan perus-tapaukseen. Lopuksi tehtiin yhteenveto ja annettiin ehdotuksia jatkotutkimuksille.

Uuteaineiden on-line-mittaus koivusulfaattisellutehtaalla

Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli tutkia pihkanhallintaa sulfaattisellutehtaalla ja uuteaineiden analysointimenetelmiä massasta ja suodoksesta. Tavoitteena oli kehittää uuteaineiden on-line mittausmenetelmä sulfaattisellutehtaalle. Kirjallisuusosassa esitettiin sulfaattisellun valmistusprosessi ja uuteaineiden käyttäytyminen prosessissa. Lisäksi työssä käsiteltiin tärkeimpiä pihkanhallintamenetelmiä ja uuteaineiden analysointia. Kokeellisessa osassa määritettiin uuteainepitoisuudet 29:stä massa- ja pesusuodosnäytteestä. Lisäksi suodosnäytteiden sameus ja kemiallinen hapenkulutus määritettiin laboratoriossa. On-line mittaukset tehtiin DD-pesurin paluusuodoksesta, josta mitattiin johtokyky, lämpötila, taitekerroin ja pH. Sameutta yritettiin mitata on-line nefelometrillä, mutta käytössä ollut laite ei soveltunut tumman suodoksen mittaamiseen. Työssä saatujen tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että pesusuodoksen ominaisuuksia mittaamalla ei voida arvioida massan uutepitoisuutta luotettavasti. Suodoksen ja massan uutepitoisuuksien välinen selitysaste oli 54%. Saippuoitumattomien uuteaineiden pitoisuuden ollessa erityisen suuri, suodoksen uutepitoisuus ei korreloi massassa olevan uutteen määrän kanssa. Täten kyseinen mittausmenetelmä ei ole sopiva, sillä se ei toimi silloin, kun olisi tärkeintä tietää oikea uuteainepitoisuus pihkanhallintakemikaalien annosten määrittämiseksi. Suodoksen sameus riippui sen uutepitoisuudesta 80% selitysasteella. Sameusmittaus on nopea ja suhteellisen luotettava menetelmä suodosten uutepitoisuuksien arviointiin, mutta se vaatii mittalaitteen joka käyttää usean ilmaisimen tekniikkaa. On-line-mittauksissa laitteisto tulisi varustaa automaattisella pesulaitteella, sillä mittarin linssit likaantuvat helposti prosessivirrassa.

Wet Oxidation of Concentrated Wastewaters: Process Combination and Reaction Kinetic Modeling

The accumulation of aqueous pollutants is becoming a global problem. The search for suitable methods and/or combinations of water treatment processes is a task that can slow down and stop the process of water pollution. In this work, the method of wet oxidation was considered as an appropriate technique for the elimination of the impurities present in paper mill process waters. It has been shown that, when combined with traditional wastewater treatment processes, wet oxidation offers many advantages. The combination of coagulation and wet oxidation offers a new opportunity for the improvement of the quality of wastewater designated for discharge or recycling. First of all, the utilization of coagulated sludge via wet oxidation provides a conditioning process for the sludge, i.e. dewatering, which is rather difficult to carry out with untreated waste. Secondly, Fe2(SO4)3, which is employed earlier as a coagulant, transforms the conventional wet oxidation process into a catalytic one. The use of coagulation as the post-treatment for wet oxidation can offer the possibility of the brown hue that usually accompanies the partial oxidation to be reduced. As a result, the supernatant is less colored and also contains a rather low amount of Fe ions to beconsidered for recycling inside mills. The thickened part that consists of metal ions is then recycled back to the wet oxidation system. It was also observed that wet oxidation is favorable for the degradation of pitch substances (LWEs) and lignin that are present in the process waters of paper mills. Rather low operating temperatures are needed for wet oxidation in order to destruct LWEs. The oxidation in the alkaline media provides not only the faster elimination of pitch and lignin but also significantly improves the biodegradable characteristics of wastewater that contains lignin and pitch substances. During the course of the kinetic studies, a model, which can predict the enhancements of the biodegradability of wastewater, was elaborated. The model includes lumped concentrations suchas the chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand and reflects a generalized reaction network of oxidative transformations. Later developments incorporated a new lump, the immediately available biochemical oxygen demand, which increased the fidelity of the predictions made by the model. Since changes in biodegradability occur simultaneously with the destruction of LWEs, an attempt was made to combine these two facts for modeling purposes.

Torque vibration model of axial-flux surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous machine

In order that the radius and thus ununiform structure of the teeth and otherelectrical and magnetic parts of the machine may be taken into consideration the calculation of an axial flux permanent magnet machine is, conventionally, doneby means of 3D FEM-methods. This calculation procedure, however, requires a lotof time and computer recourses. This study proves that also analytical methods can be applied to perform the calculation successfully. The procedure of the analytical calculation can be summarized into following steps: first the magnet is divided into slices, which makes the calculation for each section individually, and then the parts are submitted to calculation of the final results. It is obvious that using this method can save a lot of designing and calculating time. Thecalculation program is designed to model the magnetic and electrical circuits of surface mounted axial flux permanent magnet synchronous machines in such a way, that it takes into account possible magnetic saturation of the iron parts. Theresult of the calculation is the torque of the motor including the vibrations. The motor geometry and the materials and either the torque or pole angle are defined and the motor can be fed with an arbitrary shape and amplitude of three-phase currents. There are no limits for the size and number of the pole pairs nor for many other factors. The calculation steps and the number of different sections of the magnet are selectable, but the calculation time is strongly depending on this. The results are compared to the measurements of real prototypes. The permanent magnet creates part of the flux in the magnetic circuit. The form and amplitude of the flux density in the air-gap depends on the geometry and material of the magnetic circuit, on the length of the air-gap and remanence flux density of the magnet. Slotting is taken into account by using the Carter factor in the slot opening area. The calculation is simple and fast if the shape of the magnetis a square and has no skew in relation to the stator slots. With a more complicated magnet shape the calculation has to be done in several sections. It is clear that according to the increasing number of sections also the result will become more accurate. In a radial flux motor all sections of the magnets create force with a same radius. In the case of an axial flux motor, each radial section creates force with a different radius and the torque is the sum of these. The magnetic circuit of the motor, consisting of the stator iron, rotor iron, air-gap, magnet and the slot, is modelled with a reluctance net, which considers the saturation of the iron. This means, that several iterations, in which the permeability is updated, has to be done in order to get final results. The motor torque is calculated using the instantaneous linkage flux and stator currents. Flux linkage is called the part of the flux that is created by the permanent magnets and the stator currents passing through the coils in stator teeth. The angle between this flux and the phase currents define the torque created by the magnetic circuit. Due to the winding structure of the stator and in order to limit the leakage flux the slot openings of the stator are normally not made of ferromagnetic material even though, in some cases, semimagnetic slot wedges are used. In the slot opening faces the flux enters the iron almost normally (tangentially with respect to the rotor flux) creating tangential forces in the rotor. This phenomenon iscalled cogging. The flux in the slot opening area on the different sides of theopening and in the different slot openings is not equal and so these forces do not compensate each other. In the calculation it is assumed that the flux entering the left side of the opening is the component left from the geometrical centre of the slot. This torque component together with the torque component calculated using the Lorenz force make the total torque of the motor. It is easy to assume that when all the magnet edges, where the derivative component of the magnet flux density is at its highest, enter the slot openings at the same time, this will have as a result a considerable cogging torque. To reduce the cogging torquethe magnet edges can be shaped so that they are not parallel to the stator slots, which is the common way to solve the problem. In doing so, the edge may be spread along the whole slot pitch and thus also the high derivative component willbe spread to occur equally along the rotation. Besides forming the magnets theymay also be placed somewhat asymmetric on the rotor surface. The asymmetric distribution can be made in many different ways. All the magnets may have a different deflection of the symmetrical centre point or they can be for example shiftedin pairs. There are some factors that limit the deflection. The first is that the magnets cannot overlap. The magnet shape and the relative width compared to the pole define the deflection in this case. The other factor is that a shifting of the poles limits the maximum torque of the motor. If the edges of adjacent magnets are very close to each other the leakage flux from one pole to the other increases reducing thus the air-gap magnetization. The asymmetric model needs some assumptions and simplifications in order to limit the size of the model and calculation time. The reluctance net is made for symmetric distribution. If the magnets are distributed asymmetrically the flux in the different pole pairs will not be exactly the same. Therefore, the assumption that the flux flows from the edges of the model to the next pole pairs, in the calculation model from one edgeto the other, is not correct. If it were wished for that this fact should be considered in multi-pole pair machines, this would mean that all the poles, in other words the whole machine, should be modelled in reluctance net. The error resulting from this wrong assumption is, nevertheless, irrelevant.

Characteristics of Flowing Film

Työssä tutkittiin uutta teknologiaa pigmenttipäällystykseen. Tämä tekniikka on yleisesti tunnettua eräillä muilla teollisuudenaloilla. Kirjallisuustutkimuksessa on esitelty prosessia ja sen eri osatekijöitä sekä muilla aloilla tunnettuja prosessimuuttujia. Päällystyspastojen ja päällystettävien pintojen teoriaa on selvitetty uuden tekniikan ja pigmenttipäällystyksen valossa. Uuden tekniikan perusmekanismeja tutkittiin kokeellisessa osassa. Valuvan nestefilmin stabiilisuutta tutkittiin minimivirtauksen avulla. Stabiilisuustutkimuksen suorittamiseen käytettiin apuna Taguchi-matriisia DOE-ohjelmalla (Design of Experiments). Kokeiden perusteella minimivirtauksen kannalta päällystyspastalle edullisempi koostumus on kalsiumkarbonaatti- kuin kaoliinipasta. Sideaineella on pienempi osuus lateksia ja polyvinyylialkoholia parempi. Suurempi osuus pinta-aktiivista ainetta ja matala pastan kuiva-ainepitoisuus ovat suositeltuja. Tehokas ilmanpoisto päällystyspastasta on myös tärkeää lopullisen tuloksen kannalta. Koekoneella ajetuissa päällystyskokeissa havaittiin valuvan filmin ominaisuuksien tärkeys. Pienetkin kaasumäärät päällystyspastassa häiritsivät lopullisen päällysteen laatua. Päällystyspastan ilmanpoisto on avainasemassa erityisesti kun päällystetään suurella nopeudella pieniä päällystemääriä. Koeajoissa havaittiin kaikki kirjallisuudessa esitellyt rajoittavat tekijät. Kokeissa päällystettiin 400-1600 m/min nopeudella 5-20 g/m² päällystemääriä. Olosuhteet stabiilille nestefilmille vaativat edelleen kehitystä suurella nopeudella päällystettäessä. Päällysteen eroavaisuuksia verrattiin teräpäällystysmenetelmiin. Terä-päällystyksellä saadaan sileä mutta epätasaisesti peittävä pinta kun taas uuden tekniikan päällyste mukailee päällystettävän alustan topografiaa. Tasapaksun päällysteen etuna on hyvä peittävyys jo pienellä päällystemäärällä.

Paperikoneen märkäosan kemian hallinnan käytännön työkalut

Tämän työn lähtökohtana oli selvittää erään hienopaperikoneen merkittävimmät märkäosan kemian tasapainoon vaikuttavat tekijät. Työkaluina käytettiin WIC Compact -laitteistoa ja prosessin on-line -mittauksia. Näiden tuottaman informaation pohjalta tutkittiin tekijöiden vaikutusta paperikoneen ajettavuuteen tavoitteena löytää mahdolliset syy-seuraus -ilmiöt ja ennakoida näiden vaikutukset ennen paperikoneella tapahtuvia varsinaisia muutoksia. Kokeellisessa osassa mitattiin sameutta, varustilaa, alkaliteettia, pH:ta, lämpötilaa ja johtokykyä. Mittaukset tehtiin paperikoneen mänty- ja koivusellusta sekä hylkymassasta ja viiravedestä. Kokeellisen osan mittaustulosten perusteella havaittiin koivusellun uuteainepitoisuuden ja sameuden välillä olevan yhteyttä paperikoneen pihkaongelmiin. Katkotilanteet ajoittuivat usein prosessin pH- ja lämpötilavaihteluiden muutoskohtiin, missä pH ja lämpötila laskivat. Sen sijaan muutokset johtokyvyssä eivät olleet yhteydessä katkoihin. Optisen kirkasteen annostelumäärä vaikutti prosessin varaustilaan ja tapauksissa, missä varaustila selvästi kasvoi, kun optisen kirkasteen annostelua oltiin vähennetty, ilmeni ajettavuushäiriöitä. Muutokset PCC:n pH:ssa ja annostelussa näyttivät aiheuttavan perälaatikon pH-vaihteluita.

Prosessiparametrien vaikutus polymeerien diodilaserhitsaukseen

Diplomityössä tutkittiin polymeerien diodilaserhitsausta ja tavoitteena oli selvittää eri prosessiparametrien vaikutus hitsin laatuun. Kokeissa käytettyjä hitsausmenetelmiä olivat jatkuva hitsaus, puolisimultaanihitsaus ja Clearweld-menetelmä. Materiaaleina käytettiin polykarbonaattia ja ABS + PC -seosta. Kokeissa tarkasteltiin prosessiparametrien vaikutusta hitsin lujuuteen, leveyteen sekä hitsin tuhoutumiseen ja huokoisuuteen. Hitsin lujuus kasvoi hitsaustehoa nostettaessa tiettyyn pisteeseen asti, jonka jälkeen hitsi alkoi tuhoutumaan ja lujuus lähti laskuun. Hitsaustehon lisäksi hitsin lujuuteen vaikuttavia prosessiparametreja olivat hitsausnopeus ja ilmarako, joiden kasvaessa hitsin lujuus laski. Lisäksi puolisimultaanihitsauksessa pyyhkäisyjen määrä vaikutti hitsin lujuuteen; suuremmalla pyyhkäisyjen määrällä saatiin lujempi hitsi. Hitsin leveydellä ja lujuudella ei ollut vaikutusta toisiinsa, mutta hitsin tuhoutumisella ja huokosten määrällä hitsissä oli selkeä yhteys hitsin lujuuteen. Kun hitsissä alkoi esiintyä tuhoutumista, hitsin lujuus lähti laskuun. Clearweld-menetelmällä tarvittavat hitsaustehot olivat samaa suuruusluokkaa kuin jatkuvassa hitsauksessa. Hitsausparametrialueeseen, jolla saadaan aikaan laadukas hitsi, vaikuttavat hitsausteho, hitsausnopeus, ilmarako ja säteen tehotiheys sekä puolisimultaanihitsauksessa pyyhkäisyjen määrä. Hitsausnopeuden ja ilmaraon kasvaessa parametrialue kapenee. Paras liitos saadaan aikaiseksi, kun kappaleiden välillä ei ole ilmarakoa. Tällöin myös hitsausparametrialue on laajempi.

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in A minor : Add-a-soloist ; you play the solo part

r1955.

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in E major : Add-a-soloist ; you play the solo part

r1955.

Comparison Structure Analysis

This study presents an automatic, computer-aided analytical method called Comparison Structure Analysis (CSA), which can be applied to different dimensions of music. The aim of CSA is first and foremost practical: to produce dynamic and understandable representations of musical properties by evaluating the prevalence of a chosen musical data structure through a musical piece. Such a comparison structure may refer to a mathematical vector, a set, a matrix or another type of data structure and even a combination of data structures. CSA depends on an abstract systematic segmentation that allows for a statistical or mathematical survey of the data. To choose a comparison structure is to tune the apparatus to be sensitive to an exclusive set of musical properties. CSA settles somewhere between traditional music analysis and computer aided music information retrieval (MIR). Theoretically defined musical entities, such as pitch-class sets, set-classes and particular rhythm patterns are detected in compositions using pattern extraction and pattern comparison algorithms that are typical within the field of MIR. In principle, the idea of comparison structure analysis can be applied to any time-series type data and, in the music analytical context, to polyphonic as well as homophonic music. Tonal trends, set-class similarities, invertible counterpoints, voice-leading similarities, short-term modulations, rhythmic similarities and multiparametric changes in musical texture were studied. Since CSA allows for a highly accurate classification of compositions, its methods may be applicable to symbolic music information retrieval as well. The strength of CSA relies especially on the possibility to make comparisons between the observations concerning different musical parameters and to combine it with statistical and perhaps other music analytical methods. The results of CSA are dependent on the competence of the similarity measure. New similarity measures for tonal stability, rhythmic and set-class similarity measurements were proposed. The most advanced results were attained by employing the automated function generation – comparable with the so-called genetic programming – to search for an optimal model for set-class similarity measurements. However, the results of CSA seem to agree strongly, independent of the type of similarity function employed in the analysis.

Wood as a model material for medical biomaterials. In vivo and in vitro studies with bone and Betula pubescens Ehrh

Novel biomaterials are needed to fill the demand of tailored bone substitutes required by an ever‐expanding array of surgical procedures and techniques. Wood, a natural fiber composite, modified with heat treatment to alter its composition, may provide a novel approach to the further development of hierarchically structured biomaterials. The suitability of wood as a model biomaterial as well as the effects of heat treatment on the osteoconductivity of wood was studied by placing untreated and heat‐treated (at 220 C , 200 degrees and 140 degrees for 2 h) birch implants (size 4 x 7mm) into drill cavities in the distal femur of rabbits. The follow‐up period was 4, 8 and 20 weeks in all in vivo experiments. The flexural properties of wood as well as dimensional changes and hydroxyl apatite formation on the surface of wood (untreated, 140 degrees C and 200 degrees C heat‐treated wood) were tested using 3‐point bending and compression tests and immersion in simulated body fluid. The effect of premeasurement grinding and the effect of heat treatment on the surface roughness and contour of wood were tested with contact stylus and non‐contact profilometry. The effects of heat treatment of wood on its interactions with biological fluids was assessed using two different test media and real human blood in liquid penetration tests. The results of the in vivo experiments showed implanted wood to be well tolerated, with no implants rejected due to foreign body reactions. Heat treatment had significant effects on the biocompatibility of wood, allowing host bone to grow into tight contact with the implant, with occasional bone ingrowth into the channels of the wood implant. The results of the liquid immersion experiments showed hydroxyl apatite formation only in the most extensively heat‐treated wood specimens, which supported the results of the in vivo experiments. Parallel conclusions could be drawn based on the results of the liquid penetration test where human blood had the most favorable interaction with the most extensively heat‐treated wood of the compared materials (untreated, 140 degrees C and 200 degrees C heat‐treated wood). The increasing biocompatibility was inferred to result mainly from changes in the chemical composition of wood induced by the heat treatment, namely the altered arrangement and concentrations of functional chemical groups. However, the influence of microscopic changes in the cell walls, surface roughness and contour cannot be totally excluded. The heat treatment was hypothesized to produce a functional change in the liquid distribution within wood, which could have biological relevance. It was concluded that the highly evolved hierarchical anatomy of wood could yield information for the future development of bulk bone substitutes according to the ideology of bioinspiration. Furthermore, the results of the biomechanical tests established that heat treatment alters various biologically relevant mechanical properties of wood, thus expanding the possibilities of wood as a model material, which could include e.g. scaffold applications, bulk bone applications and serving as a tool for both mechanical testing and for further development of synthetic fiber reinforced composites.