Manufacture Of Wood Products Research Articles

Preparation and properties of soybean protein adhesive modified by chitosan/tannic-silver nanocomposite

ABSTRACT Despite the recent advances in protein-based adhesives, the poor water resistance and unsatisfactory mechanical property limit the industrial application of soybean protein adhesive. It is challenging to achieve strong adhesion and high water resistance. In this work, chitosan, tannic acid and silver ion were used to modify soybean protein adhesive. Through chelation, redox reaction and hydrogen bonding, a dynamic crosslinking network structure was constructed, so as to prepare a bio-based adhesive with high water resistance and high bonding strength. It was revealed that when the tannic acid and silver nitrate were mixed at the same concentration of 10 mg/mL and the volume ratio of 1:1, silver nanoparticles with the highest content were produced. When the mass of soybean protein, chitosan, tannic-silver solution and distilled water was 15, 0.3, 30 and 55 g, respectively, the enhancement effect was the best. The dry shear strength increased by 171% to 3.03 MPa, and the wet shear strength increased by 93% to 1.29 MPa. The water resistance, thermal stability, hydrolysis stability, and the toughness and viscosity of the soybean protein adhesive were greatly improved. This study developed a new bio-based adhesive and expanded its potential application in wood products manufacturing.

Wood Artisan Training and Job Prospects in Sekondi Takoradi -The Hope, The Helplessness, And The Hatred

The paper aimed to investigate the wood artisanal education and training designed for the youth of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and the prevailing job prospects vis-a-vis the modern technologies, tools, equipment and materials required in the (artisanal) training and manufacturing of world-class wood products. The paper found that the wood market is available to wood artisans and wood products in the Metropolis. The quantitative design approach was applied as the work was based on information obtained from wood artisans and professionals, connoisseurs, curators and wood sellers. The primary information was acquired through interaction, observation and field survey, while secondary information was obtained from literary sources. The purposive sampling technique adopted the analytical method to analyse the data.The results showed that woodcraft artisans in the Metropolis lacked the requisite education and training in modern machinery and technological know-how needed to meet the International Standard Order (ISO) and the increasing taste of the prospective woodcraft market.The paper concludes that Sekondi-Takoradi will be threatened with employable woodcraft knowledge, skills and competencies required to meet the Metropolis's woodcraft market and compete favourably with their Western and Asian counterparts.

Engineering Wood Products from Eucalyptus spp.

Forest covers 4.06 billion hectares (ha) or 31% of the total land area worldwide, where 93% (3.75 billion ha) are natural regenerating forests and the remaining 7% (294 million ha) are planted forests. Eucalyptus spp., being one of the most important plantation species, has been planted in 95 countries around the world, and the area of plantation has exceeded 22.57 million ha. In the southern hemisphere, it is a significant industrial fast-growing tree species. These plantations serve as a valuable resource for the timber and fibre-based industries. Eucalyptus is the main fibre resource for the pulp and paper industries in developed countries. Timber extracted from the planted eucalyptus trees has long been used for solid wood and its fibres were used for manufacturing medium-density fibreboard. In comparison to most softwood species, Eucalyptus timber is reported to have a higher rigidity, making it ideal for manufacturing structural products. Therefore, this paper presents a review and analysis of the recent state of research on the utilisation of planted eucalyptus for engineered wood products (EWPs) manufacturing. This study investigated Eucalyptus-based EWPs such as particleboard, fibreboard, oriented strand board, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, glue laminated lumber, and cross-laminated lumber. The feasibility of using planted Eucalyptus in the production of EWPs, as well as the challenges encountered, was also discussed.

Variations of Stem and Branch Wood Properties of <i>Nesogordonia papaverifera</i> in Ghana

The characteristics of <i>Nesogordonia papaverifera</i> stemwood and branchwood were investigated. Within Ghana's middle belt, five mature trees with identical diameter at breast height were chosen. Mechanical characteristics and basic density were determined in accordance with British Standard BS 373 and ASTMD 2395, respectively. The IAWA list of microscopic features for hardwood identification was followed by anatomical features. Basic density, mechanical, and anatomical parameters all had a positive connection (P<0.05). Branchwood had a little higher basic density than stemwood, and heartwood had a slightly higher basic density than sapwood. There were minor changes in MoE, MoR, compression, shear, and hardness between the heartwood and sapwood. The stem and branch, on the other hand, were comparable. Fibre percentages were higher in stemwood than branchwood and in heartwoods than sapwoods anatomically. There were more vessels in the branch than in the stem, and in the sap than in the heart. The branchwood of <i>N. papaverifera</i> had medium strength qualities that were comparable to most medium construction species' stemwood and could thus be used in addition to their stemwood. The study has offered information on <i>N. papaverifera</i> branchwood that may inspire trust and interest in the use of branchwood as a supplemental material in the manufacture of wood products.

Post-consumer wood – an additional reserve of raw materials for construction materials

It is substantiated that post-consumer wood (PCW) is an alternative additional resource of raw materials under the condition of recycling and processing it into structural materials for use in the technological processes of woodworking, furniture and other wood products. The main problem of processing used wood is clarified – the lack of resource-saving and environmentally safe technologies with practical recommendations for the use of PCW in woodworking. The need to create a classification of used wood is substantiated, which will make it possible to record, identify, forecast the volume of formation and predict a potential reserve for the manufacture of new wood products. A detailed review and thorough analysis was made to determine the principles of classification of used wood. It is substantiated that the production of structural materials, in particular carpentry boards, can become a promising direction of material use of used wood, which is an urgent and understudied problem. It is substantiated that used wood can be processed into dimensionally suitable blanks, which are the basis for the manufacture of carpentry boards and carpentry boards of various designs. It has been established that the development of ways of use, classification of used wood, resource-saving and environmentally safe technology with practical recommendations for the use of PCW in woodworking will make it possible to significantly save primary raw materials. It has been found that the problem of finding a rational option for processing PCW into dimensionally suitable blanks for carpentry boards is urgent, and for its real solution, it is necessary to develop significant steps regarding the classification of PCW according to the degree of pollution, which is decisive for the production of quality products. The main strategic ways of using PCW, which formed the basis of the developed concept in the following areas: material and energy use, transformation and storage, are substantiated. A strategy for the use of PCW has been developed in compliance with the algorithm of the step-by-step material processing procedure, which is based on the systematization of PCW by categories, classification by pollution, the concept of utilization by processing into dimensionally suitable blanks and construction materials.

Malaysian timber industry policy: Achievements, challenges, and lessons learned

The National Timber Industry Plan was the first major dedicated policy framework for the wood products industry in Malaysia. This plan aimed to transform the industry into a high value-added products manufacturer and exporter, with a targeted export value of USD 13 billion in 2020. Unfortunately, this target was revised downwards in 2017 due to stagnating growth; in 2020, wood products export was valued at USD 5.43 billion. A survey of 914 different wood products manufacturers, involving sawmillers, molding, furniture, and joinery manufacturers, were conducted to examine the constraints faced, and the weaknesses of the policy framework that hampered its intended objectives. The results revealed that the policy framework did not have much impact on transforming the industry, and its growth continued to be fueled by incremental factor inputs, rather than by productivity gains. Uncertainty with the policy framework, especially with addressing raw materials supply and workforce, were highlighted as the two most important constraints faced. In essence, the outcomes suggest that business confidence, associated with industrial growth factors, are the prerequisite for the policy framework to succeed, and if confidence falters, it will adversely affect the targeted outcome of the policy.

Wood Residues in the Moratuwa Woodworking Industry Cluster of Sri Lanka: Potential for Sector Synergies and Value-Added Products

Abstract The Moratuwa Woodworking Industry Cluster (MWIC) is a geographically concentrated cluster of over 1,600 small-to-medium scale wood-based manufacturing and retail facilities in Sri Lanka. Firms include furniture manufacturers, carpentry shops, sawmills, and integrated sawmills. The concept of industrial symbiosis explores the synergies between industrial facilities to exchange energy, water, by-products, and waste to achieve a higher efficiency in resource utilization. This research was undertaken to address the lack of quantitative information on wood residues generated within the MWIC. A survey of 180 primary and secondary wood product manufacturers was undertaken to quantify MWIC firm by-product production and consumption of wood residues to establish a baseline for possible end use and waste synergies. The total population of enterprises generating wood waste is 730; retail facilities are not included. Sawmills produce approximately 66% of the 6,490 MT of MWIC's monthly wood residue generation, with the balance produced by carpentry and integrated enterprises. Teak (Tectona grandis) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) are the dominant species used in the MWIC, accounting for most of the wood waste. Three main types of wood waste were identified in the survey: sawdust (76.5%), boards with significant wane (16.5%) unusable for further products, and offcuts (6.9%). Only 55% of the wood waste generated in MWIC is currently used; the remaining 45% is taken to landfills or disposed of in other ways, such as discarded in waterways or other nonapproved locations. Improved wood waste sorting by type at the mill level and aggregated wood waste within the MWIC was determined to increase the usability of wood waste as potential inputs in other wood manufacturing sectors in the MWIC.

Influence of hot pressing technological parameters on plywood bending properties

Different types of wood are used to manufacture of various wood products. In direct production processes, additional resources such as energy, adhesives, labor, etc. are also used. In line with sustainable environmental policies, all resources must be used more rationally, while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of the direct production processes. This research examined whether it is possible to reduce energy and labor resources in the technological process of hot pressing of birch plywood (nominal thickness 9 mm), by varying the holding time under pressure, pressure, and adhesive consumption. The Box-Behnken experimental design for a multifactor experiment was used to investigate the influence of technological parameters of plywood pressing. The highest strength in static bending both parallel and perpendicular to the plywood grain was achieved by pressing plywood with the following gluing parameters: highest pressing pressure, 3.2 MPa; minimal holding time under pressure, 9 minutes; and average phenol-formaldehyde adhesive consumption 150 grams per square meter.

Обеспечение пожарной безопасности упаковок и тары из древесины

The possibility of developing a methodology for conducting tests to assess flame retardness of packages for storing hazardous substances, materials, or products, as well as the use of the efficient integrated means of modifying wood for their manufacture is considered. The analysis of the basic principles of the methodology of testing the building structures and products of the current standards showed the fundamental possibility of assessing the level of protection of explosive substances, materials or products contained in the package from the effects of fire hazards in the time from the beginning of tests under standard temperature conditions to the occurrence of the standardized limit states. To carry out studies on the assessment of flame retardness of the wooden packages, the means were selected that ensure not only their fire protection, but also weather resistance and moisture resistance, as well as strength. Comparative experimental studies of flame retardness allowed to assess behavior of the wooden packages during complex processing, and to show the advantages of their use to ensure integrity, thermal insulation capacity and the possibility of long-term storage while maintaining the main operational properties. As a result, the principal possibility of using standard equipment and measuring instruments in accordance with GOST 30247.0—94 was established, the main criteria for the assessment of flame retardness were developed, the efficiency of fire protection, as well as the strength characteristics of a complex tool for its possible use in the manufacture of structural elements and wood products, were studied.

The Electricity Shortage Cost in Iran: An Input-Output Analysis and Linear Programming

The electricity supply security has played a vital role in the economic development of Iran. However, a large number of electricity supply disruptions has been happened in recent years, which lead to the electricity shortage costs in the level of economic sectors. Using a combination of Input-Output analysis and the Linear Programming method, this study measures the producer price index as average costs of Iranian economic sectors after imposing a unique scenario of 30% potential electricity shortage supply. In this regard, we employ an Iranian symmetric Input-Output 14I14 industry-by-industry Table for the year 2011. The results of this study indicate that the most shortage cost occurs for the manufacture of wood and paper products, while the services have the lowest cost after electricity supply disruption. Besides, increasing the costs of non-electricity sectors in the Iranian economy after electricity supply shock is 175.63% on average. The quantitative results are useful for policymakers attempting to set strategic plans to reduce the electricity cost in manufacturing sectors and optimal distribution of limited electricity resources to reduce the overall cost of blackouts.

Photomicrogrph Atlas of Wood Pellet Components

Concerns about climate change, energy security, and the diversification of energy supplies have made renewable resources increasingly more attractive and important sources of energy. As interest grows, bioenergy (energy from bio-based sources) is becoming more environmentally friendly and economically viable and has started to play a more prominent role in the global energy mix. In this changing market, wood pellets have emerged as a sustainable source of power with the potential to become a mainstream fuel in the future energy market. Pellets are currently the most economical way of converting biomass into fuel, and they are a fast-growing component of the energy sector. Pellets can be made from various types of biomass including industrial waste and co-products, food waste, agricultural residues, and virgin lumber, which are compressed under high pressure. Among these, wood pellets are the most common, and they generally are made from raw trees, wood shavings, compacted sawdust, industrial wastes from the milling of lumber, manufacture of wood products and furniture, and construction. The wood pellets available on the market are sold as fuel (heating and grilling) or as absorbents for animal bedding. But while the wood pellets are a fast-growing component of the energy sector and important tool in fight with global warming, it is important to understand influence of wood pellet quality on combustion emissions, and how their usage impacts human health and environment. Thanks to wood pellet industry efforts, especially in the North America and European Union, many of the wood pellets follow rigorous production procedures, and certification. However, there are still some manufacturers that do not use the same production scrutiny, which can result in poorer quality of their pellets. Our research show that in some extreme cases these uncertified wood pellets contain more than 20 percent of impurities. While some of those contaminants are so big that can be visible even without microscope the majority of the contaminants are of micrometer size and can be detected and identify only under a microscope. While the current standards test the quality of pellets based on a variety of physical and chemical properties, some impurities in pellets (glass, plastic, metal, ceramics, coal, and coke) are not easily identified this way. Our research shows that reflected light microscopy can be successfully used to identify and quantify those contaminants. Although reflected light microscopy technique is a well-known and widely used method allowing examination of various materials, this is a novel application for pellet fuels.

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF WORK ACCIDENTS IN BRAZILIAN WOOD PRODUCT MANUFACTURING

Wood product manufacturing involves many dangerous activities and a high incidence of work-related accidents. The objective of this study was to analyze registered and unregistered work accidents, as well as the most frequent type and rate increase over the years for different activities of wood product manufacture in Brazil. Total accidents were counted including both unregistered and registered accidents. The accidents were classified as either a typical accident, a commuting accident or occupational diseases. Evaluated production was subdivided into sawmill operations, manufacture of laminated wood and plywood, wood-derived pressed and agglomerated sheets, and furniture with a predominance of wood. Wood production presented 2,849,470 direct jobs. For the furniture manufacturing sub-sector, there was an increase in the growth rate for direct jobs. However, there was a greater number of total accidents and an increase in the rate of number of accidents over time. For sawmills and the manufacture of laminated wood and slabs, there was a decreasing trend in the rate of direct jobs and accidents. Of the total number of accidents, more than 20% were not reported. The primary accident incidence was the typical accident (88.3%), followed by commuting accidents (9.5%) and lastly occupational diseases (2.1%).

Digital technology application among Malaysian value-added wood products manufacturers

The application of digital technologies (DT) has been on the increase within the manufacturing industries since a decade ago. It has been widely suggested that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of DT in manufacturing industries worldwide, as countries have tried to contain and mitigate the spread of infection through lockdowns and stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs). Hence, a study was undertaken to evaluate this trend in the Malaysian wood products industry, and to identify the key DT used. A questionnaire-based survey was implemented and targeted at the furniture, moldings, and builder’s joinery and carpentry sub-sectors, with the assistance of the relevant trade associations. A total of 477 responses were obtained, and it was found that digital technologies, such as computer aided design (CAD), computer numerical control (CNC), digital communication, digital marketing, and enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems, were highly adopted, but they did not significantly differ in terms of company size or product type. However, the rate of adoption was not uniform, as 5% of the respondent companies did not adopt any digital technologies. The study revealed that wood products companies adopted digital technologies that boosted their production and marketing, while those with limited DT adoption were more severely impacted during the pandemic.

Increasing the Strength of the Glue Line in the Production of Thermally Modified Wood Paneling

This work is devoted to the study of the effect of ultraviolet rays for the surface activation of pine wood thermally modified at temperatures of 180−240 °C in order to increase the surface roughness, enhance the wettability of thermal wood and the adhesive strength of the glue in the production of wood block furniture panels. Studies were carried out to measure the contact angle of wettability of thermally modified wood samples of pine, as a result of which it was determined that the ultraviolet treatment process contributes to an increase in the adhesion properties of the surface layer of thermally modified wood by more than 13% due to the reactivity of ultraviolet rays to oxidize and degrade ligno-containing wood products. At the same time, the most active process of surface activation takes place during 60 min of ultraviolet irradiation of wood with a total irradiation of at least 125 W/cm2. It was revealed that the combined effect of two-stage wood processing, including preliminary volumetric thermal modification followed by surface ultraviolet treatment, causes an increase in the moisture resistance of glued wood products by 24%. So, if the strength of the glue seam when gluing natural wood samples after boiling decreased by 46%, then the samples that underwent two-stage processing showed a decrease only by 22%. In connection with the results obtained, an improved technology for the production of furniture boards for the manufacture of moisture-resistant wood products is proposed.

Environmental benefits of soy-based bio-adhesives as an alternative to formaldehyde-based options.

The restrictions imposed on the use of formaldehyde in wood panel adhesives have been the driving force behind the development of formaldehyde-free resins for the manufacture of wood products. Considering as a boundary condition the idea that the use of fossil-based raw materials should be replaced by biological options, there is growing interest in the environmental assessment of different alternatives for soy-based adhesives, as possible options to replace commonly used synthetic resins. This report includes the environmental profiles of soy-based adhesives taking into account the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. In addition, in order to increase their potential to replace synthetic resins, a sensitivity analysis of the main contributors to environmental damage was performed, thus giving an open guide for further research and improvement. This study aims to provide innovative alternatives and new trends in the field of environmentally friendly bio-adhesives for the wood panel industry.

The Removal of Cured Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesive towards Sustainable Medium Density Fiberboard Production: A Review

Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product that has density and specific gravity similar to solid wood, ranging from 600 to 800 kg/m3 of density and 0.6 to 0.8 of specific gravity. This makes MDF suitable to partially replace solid wood, particularly for interior application. Approximately over than 100 million m3 of MDF are produced in 2020, resulting in a large amount of waste MDF will be generated in the next 20 years. MDF is produced using urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins adhesive. UF resins adhesive is a poly-condensation product of urea and formaldehyde via an alkaline acid two-step reaction. Sustainable MDF production is required as the world is facing climate change and deforestation. Recycling is a way to support sustainable production in the engineered wood products manufacturing. Many attempts have been done to find ways to recycle waste MDF. The main problem is UF resins, which bond the MDF panel fibers. In order to re-manufacture the waste MDF into new recycled MDF, UF resins should be eliminated from the waste MDF before being used. The presence of UF resins in MDF can interfere with the utilization of the recycled fibers, whether it will be used as a raw material for new MDF or other composite products. This paper reviews the process of removal of cured UF resins from waste MDF panel by considering the hydrolytic stability of cured UF resins for MDF recycling, providing a comprehensive review of how cured UF resins can be removed from waste MDF and characterization of recycled fibers obtained from recycling prior to re-manufacturing of recycled MDF panel.Keywords: hydrolysis, medium density fiberboard, resin, recycling, resin removal, urea-formaldehyde

Decarbonisation Pathways of Industry in TIMES Model

Abstract The industry sector in many countries has a significant role in reaching national long-term emission reductions, energy efficiency and renewable energy targets. New technologies, wide implementation of energy efficiency measures and smart energy management are needed for the industry to ensure local and global competitiveness and reduce emissions. Since the industrial sector is often comprised of sub-sectors that are unique and with local specifics, this paper focuses on three of them, taking Latvia as the case. The sectors are: manufacture of wood and wood products, non-metallic mineral products, as well as food products and tobacco. These sub-sectors together consume around 80 % of the total final energy use in the country’s industrial sector. Comprehensive analysis and decomposition of the sub-sectors was made to identify future development pathways. TIMES model was used to elaborate a process-oriented modelling approach to analyze the impact of measures defined in the National Energy and Climate Plan until 2030 as well to gauge the impact of additional measures. Results show that these measures promote the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, however it is necessary to set new measures and activities for the period beyond to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

Temporally-differentiated biogenic carbon accounting of wood building product life cycles

Although standards have identified temporary carbon storage as an important element to consider in wood product LCAs, there has been no consensus on a methodology for its accounting. This work aims to improve the accounting of carbon storage and fluxes in long-life wood products in LCA. Biogenic carbon from harvested roundwood logs were tracked using the Carbon Budget Model Framework for Harvested Wood Products (CBMF-HWP). Carbon flows through wood product manufacturing, building life and end-of-life phases, and carbon stocks and fluxes from harvest to the atmosphere were estimated. To cover the products commonly used in the Canadian building industry, a range of softwood products types, provinces and territories and building lifetimes were considered. In addition, policy scenarios were considered in order to model the effects of dynamic parameters through time as a policy target is reached. Most wood products have similar emissions profiles, though cross-laminated timber has higher sawmill emissions and oriented-strand board has higher initial post-demolition emissions. The region of construction is also predictive of the initial post-demolition emissions. Higher recycling rates shift materials from landfills into subsequent product systems, thus avoiding landfill emissions. Landfill decay rates are affected by climate and results in a large range of landfill emissions. The degree of postponement of end-of-life emissions is highly dependent upon the wood product type, region and building lifespan parameters. This work develops biogenic carbon profiles that allows for modelling dynamic cradle-to-grave LCAs of Canadian wood products.

Surface characterization and biodegradability of sodium hydroxide-treated Moso bamboo substrates

Alkali solution immersion is widely used as a pretreatment process during bamboo and wood product manufacturing. In this study, a surface analysis on bamboo chips pre-treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at room temperature was performed. The influence of this treatment on the bamboo surface color, microstructure, surface chemical composition, and biological resistance was evaluated. The surface color rapidly became dark at 5% NaOH and became rough at 20% NaOH. After the alkali treatment, an absorption peak occurred near wavelengths of 390–410 nm in the Kubelka–Munk curve, owing to the presence of chromophore groups derived from lignin. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the conjugate structure of lignin-phenols changed after proton transfer in a hydroxyl radical solution. During the treatment, lignin and hemicellulose in the bamboo degraded to some extent, but cellulose was less affected. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that the oxygen-carbon ratio and the oxygenated to unoxygenated carbon ratio increased with the treatment, indicating a decrease in the amount of extractives and lignin. X-ray diffraction results showed that the area of the crystallization zone increased rapidly at 5% NaOH and then decreased. Furthermore, upon reaching the crystalline region, the NaOH solution led to swelling of the cell wall, thereby increasing the accessibility of fungi and, hence, the susceptibility of the bamboo to fungi infection. The bamboo weight loss of decay after the alkaline treatment was larger than that of the control and was a maximum at 10% NaOH.

An attempt to create the holistic flow chart of forest resources

The environmental development of a building has an important role to play in terms of the sustainable development of our society. Against this background, wood and wood-based products have lately attracted notable attention as promising construction materials due to then-unique environmental properties, such as renewability and carbon storage capacity. For the sustainable use of wood, a relevant balance between supply and demand of forest resources is significant. However, little work has been conducted on a comprehensive understanding of forest resources flow. The objective of this study was. therefore, to draw an integrated chart of forest resources flow including forest conditions, round wood production, wood product manufacturing, wood stock in buildings and waste management at the end of product life, mainly focusing on building material flow. The flow charts were drawn for five countries (Japan. Finland. Germany, Sweden and Canada) based on statistical data. Instead of directly showing numerical information, the chart is presented as an infographic in order to promote intuitive understanding of the contents. The chart is intended as a basis for the development of sustainable forest resource circulation. This paper focuses on introducing the chart as such ad briefly discusses how the chart can be utilized for further study in relation with SDGs.