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Curing kinetics of nano cupric oxide (CuO) modified PF resin as wood adhesive: Effect of surfactant
2013 - IRG/WP 13-40620
The effect of nano cupric oxide (CuO) in combination with surfactants on the curing kinetics of phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin, as well as the bonding strength of plywood prepared using the modified resin were investigated in this study using dynamic and isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The result showed that the incorporation of nano CuO along with alkane surfactant made in the...
Wei Gao, Guanben Du


Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy as a tool for examining chemical changes in wood cell walls due to enzymatic activity
2014 - IRG/WP 14-20556
As development of techniques for examining enzymatic activity on solid, complex biological materials, is considered to be an important factor in further development of enzyme applications and for understanding the decay of plant materials, this study explores applicability of Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope (STXM) for determining chemical changes in enzymatically treated samples at the cell...
D Jeremic, R Goacher, R Yan, C Karunakaran, E R Master


Modern Instrumental Methods to Investigate the Mechanism of Biological Decay in Wood Plastic Composites
2014 - IRG/WP 14-40674
Various instrumental techniques were used to study the fungal decay process in wood plastic composite (WPC) boards. Commercial boards exposed near Hilo, Hawaii (HI) for eight years in both sun and shadow locations were inspected and tested periodically. After eight years of exposure, both boards were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while a selected area of the board exposed in sh...
G Sun, R Ibach, M Gnatowski, J Glaeser, M Leung, J Haight


Non-destructive monitoring of structure and moisture dynamics of plywood exposed outdoors to improve service life prediction and fit-for-purpose design
2015 - IRG/WP 15-20570
Plywood is an important construction material yet prone to water uptake, which can decrease strength and increase decay risk. To predict service life and improve fit-for-purpose design, it is crucial to understand the moisture behavior and structural changes of plywood. In this research, several plywood specimens were exposed outdoors for approximately one year. During this period, the moisture di...
W Li, J Van den Bulcke, I De Windt, M Dierick, J Van Acker


Investigation of enzymatic effect on pit membranes by light and scanning electron microscopy
2016 - IRG/WP 16-40721
Spruce wood, one of the refractory wood species has pit membranes, which has an influence on the permeability of wood providing liquid flow between the wood cells. However, these membranes tend to close under the fiber saturated point (FSD), which makes impregnation more difficult. In this study spruce sapwood samples were treated with two different commercial enzymes to improve the permeability o...
S Durmaz, Ü C Yildiz, M Öztürk, B Serdar


The Protective Effect of Different Tree Bark Extractives against Decay Fungi
2017 - IRG/WP 17-30707
There are various modification methods which increase the resistance of wooden materials. Due to recent environmental regulations, there is a need for new and environmentally-friendly wood preservatives. In this study, six different tree bark extractives were evaluated for their wood resistance against fungal degradation. For this purpose, the white rot fungi (Tramates versicolour) and brown rot f...
Ö Özgenç, S Durmaz


Wood natural durability an asset to the circular economy of wood industry: valorization of waste from sawmills for the cosmetics sector through the ValorExtr@ct project
2019 - IRG/WP 19-10954
The French Guiana ‘s forest is characterized by its incredible biodiversity; more than 1200 wood species have been listed to date. Some argue that this diversity would be linked to the hot, humid climate with no seasonal variation, which would be ideal conditions for the installation of a constant "arms race" between predators and prey. Thus, to cope with biotic and abiotic attacks, wood species...
N Amusant, J Passelande, D Fernand, J Beauchene, E Houel, M Royer


Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) – a potential tool for improved utilisation of the natural durability of Scots pine for solid wood products
2019 - IRG/WP 19-50358
The natural durability of sapwood of most species is generally low, while heartwood can be more resistant to biodeterioration. For the sawmill industry various lumber products require certain diameters and lengths of the logs in addition to requirements for wood properties. When utilising the heartwood, it is therefore important to acquire information already in the forest about which trees that c...
P-O Flaete


Is cascading of harvested wood products really an environmentally beneficial strategy in Finland and Norway?
2020 - IRG/WP 20-50364
The role of cascading wood waste in the bioeconomy is highlighted in the several strategic documents. The European Waste Framework Directive describes a waste hierarchy where re-use and recovery are considered more favourable options compared with energy recovery, and applies strict re-use and recycling targets to household waste and non-hazardous construction and demolition waste. It is not fully...
C A S Hill, G Alfredsen, M Hughes, L R Gobakken


Environmentally Friendly Wood Modification based on Tannin-Furfuryl alcohol - Effect on stabilisation, mechanical properties and decay durability
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40929
Furfurylation is a well-known wood modification technology. This paper studied the effect of tannin addition on the wood furfurylation. Three kinds of dicarboxylic acids, adipic acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid, as well as glyoxal as a comparing agent, were used to catalyse the polymerisation of furanic or tannin-furanic solutions during wood modification. Impregnation of furanic or tannin-f...
M Mubarok, E Azadeh, F O Akong, S Dumarçay, A Pizzi, C Charbonnier-Gérardin, P Gérardin


A new project - Circular use of wood in Norway for improved sustainability and innovation (CircWOOD)
2022 - IRG/WP 22-50369
In Norway, around 12 m3 timber are logged each year. If our society is to succeed in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, it is expected that the need for resources will be significantly greater than that. Recycled wood will be a crucial input factor through new reuse and material recycling solutions. In order to close knowledge gaps related to the availability and quality of recycled wood, the ...
L Ross, L Huang, E Trømborg, R Modaresi, H Sjøli, C A S Hill


Novel bio-based tannin/furfurylic alcohol thermosets: application to wood preservation
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40959
This project is integrated within the overall context of sustainable development and targets the valorization the wood industry by-products such as polyphenolic extractives, and in particular tannins. The objective targets the use of the same polymer used for production of tannin-furanic foams, but here for wood preservation to avoid the utilization of biocides. The aims is to the design of copoly...
C Gérardin-Charbonnier, E Azadeh, A Pizzi, P Gerardin


Optimization of furfurylic alcohol/tannin ratio to improve the performance of biosourced thermoset resins for wood protection
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40994
This study concerns the chemical modification of wood with different ratios of tannin and furfuryl alcohol (FA) in the presence of maleic acid as catalyst. Tannins were used not only as cross-linking agents, but also as co-monomers to improve wood durability, while reducing the amount of FA used. Different aqueous formulations were prepared containing decreasing amount of FA (from 45.45% to 0%) an...
E Azadeh, A Pizzi, P Gérardin, C Gérardin-Charbonnier


End-of-life options for engineered wood products / Treated timber in a circular economy
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50383
Australians are excellent consumers of products. These products ultimately end up as waste materials and need to go somewhere. Australia produces around 28 million tons of waste per year with around 50% currently ending up in landfill, including a significant amount of timber, engineered wood products (EWP’s), and preservative treated wood (PTW). Limited landfill capacity, increasing costs, and ...
H Brooke


Australian timber durability research needs
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50385
Australia was once a world leader in timber durability research, but prolonged disinvestment resulted in a gradual decline in capacity. Forest and Wood Products Australia recognized this problem and supported the development of the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life to help reverse this decline and begin to educate the next generation of Australian researchers. The Centre is a collabor...
J J Morrell


Assessment of historical pilings from Lisbon
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41004
The renovation and rebuilding of areas in Lisbon has led to work on buildings constructed in the Pombaline downtown district. These buildings were constructed on wooden pilings, as a means of stabilising unstable soils and transfer the loads from buildings to soils with adequate bearing capacity. These methods also increased the resilience of the reconstruction works to future possible earthquakes...
D Jones, S Duarte, J A J Huber, L Nunes


Keeping wood greenest: Maximizing the unique benefits of preserved wood through end-of-life planning to realize carbon sequestration and a circular economy
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50387
While competitive fuels and different energy sources are a main driver of current difficulties with using end-of-life wood products for fuel, that is a potentially smaller problem than the rapidly changing carbon footprints of competitive materials, which can potentially be smaller than wood, if the wrong decisions are made at the end of life by users and waste generators. While users have several...
J D Lloyd, B Poe


Bio-based thermal insulation panels – a way of cascading utilization of post-consumer wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50388
Cascading wood utilization is critical to fulfilling a circular economy frame in the wood industry. The work's aim was to apply wood dust from plywood production to the production of innovative bio-based thermal insulation panels. Trametes hirsute fungus was used as a composite binder, and then a composite structure and thermal insulation properties, water absorbability, and strength properties of...
W Perdoch, A Szelag


Overview of Canadian CRD wood waste recycling ecosystem
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50395
One of the main constituents of solid waste in Canada is waste from the construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) sector. Therefore, there are strong social, economic and ecological needs to reduce the generation of CRD waste and to increase the volume diverted from landfills and incineration. However, as the CRD waste management is not a simple ecosystem, it does require a comprehensive appro...
G Boivin, D Schorr


Evaluating the potential for re-using timber from deconstructed sea defence groynes from the Bournemouth groyne field
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50397
In the shadow of a looming climate crisis, the modern age construction industry is evolving. The for implementing sustainable practices has never been greater and the potential role of the circular economy is front and centre. It can play a pivotal role in transforming the industry by promoting sustainable practices which emphasise the need to reduce consumption of natural resources. Re-using timb...
J R Williams


From Wet to Preserved: Collecting Data of Waterlogged Wood Treated with PEG in Lanyan Museum and Study the Effect of Molecular Weight on Dimensional Stability
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11080
Waterlogged archaeological wood are most commonly unearthed in Yilan County, with over one-third originating from the Yilan Agricultural School site. This study aims to analyse the current state of conservation of waterlogged archaeological wood in Yilan County and hopes to properly alleviate the irreversible damage caused to the waterlogged archaeological wood after they leave the water layer. Ho...
K-L Huang, P-Y Kuo


The spread of technology in a simple wooden pile construction method to prevent shallow landslides
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20733
This study introduces the development and practical application of an innovative slope stabilization technique called the Wood Pile Root System Method (WPRSM), aimed at preventing shallow landslides, which have increased due to the rising occurrence of extreme weather events caused by climate change. This method effectively reinforces slopes using thinned timber, providing a sustainable and cost-e...
K Shimizu, K Tanaka, H Hashitani, A Yamaguchi, K Kabeno, Y Iijima, A Ito, M Jo, T Fujii, K Abe, H Ochiai


The non-energy utilization of low-quality wood from the invasive species Prunus serotina
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30814
Alien invasive species in Europe, such as Prunus serotina, can significantly impact ecosystem structure and function. This species provides low-quality timber, which is most often used for energy purposes in the form of biomass. In the era of policies focused on a circular economy, seeking methods to extend the life cycle of raw materials and wood products is necessary. For this purpose, the wood ...
W Perdoch, P Kołwzan


WoodStock: Empowering climate-smart, circular, and zero-waste use of underutilized wood from the forest and building stock in the construction sector to support the New European Bauhaus
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50405
There is a clear need for enhanced contribution of the forest-based sector to decarbonisation strategies for buildings, both in terms of operational emissions, embodied emissions, and carbon removals. WoodStock is a multifaceted project dedicated to advancing climate-smart wood construction practices in alignment with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. A primary focus is the quantification...
L De Ligne, J Van Acker, J Van den Bulcke


Proposal for New Evaluation Criteria for Exterior Products to Achieve a Circular Economy
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50408
In recent years, the development of laws related to the promotion of wood use in buildings in Japan has led to a significant increase in wood demand, resulting in the widespread use of various wood materials in construction. In this context, the use of preservative-treated wood, selected based on the principle of using the right material in the right place, has been emphasized. However, a systemat...
K Murakami, T Fujii, Y Iijima, T Hikiji


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