Abstract
ISOLATION OF NATURAL RADIATION TO INDOOR APPLICATIONS WITH WOOD BASED PRODUCTS
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas of particular significance in granite areas. It's presence can have severe consequences for human health, particularly cancer. In this paper, João Nunes and his colleagues at the Biorefineries and Bioproducts Department or Oliveria do Hospital in Portugal, evaluated the development of an optimised wood product to achieve real radon resistance of over 95% which is higher than currently commercially available products.
Isolation of natural radiation to indoor applications with wood based products. J. Nunes, J. Silva, H. Freitas, L. Neves and A. Pereira, pp. 100–111
WOOD PARTICLEBOARDS PRODUCED WITH UNMODIFIED AND ESTERIFIED KRAFT LIGNINS
Industrial lignin is available as a by-product of the pulp and paper industry and at present only 2% is utilised. Tatjana Stefanovic and her team at Laval University, Quebec, Canada have been investigating the promising area of replacing some phenol with lignin in phenol-formaldehyde resins. Modifying lignin for adhesives offers the potential for making formaldehyde free resins for wood panel maufacture. The paper explains the chemistry and the results of making composites using these modified lignins.
Wood particleboards produced with unmodified and esterified Kraft lignins. D. Schorr, G. Komba Yoya, D. Rodrigue, P. Niokhor Diouf and T. Stevanovic, pp. 112–122
INVESTIGATION OF END FORCE DISTRIBUTIONS DURING WOOD BENDING USING A NOVEL DIFFERENTIAL-END-FORCE SENSOR
In manufacturing where wood is subjected to bending processes, success and reduction of breakages depends on knowing the degree of end restraint applied. Colin Burvill at the University of Melbourne describes in this paper the development of a novel differential end force sensor that has the potential to improve the performance of the wood bending process, in particular for semi-automated production settings.
Investigation of end force distributions during wood bending using a novel differential-end-force sensor. C. Burvill, B. Ozarska and L. Juniper, pp. 123–130
A MODIFIED LEAD USER APPROACH FOR NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: AN ILLUSTRATION FROM THE US OF A MARKETING RESEARCH TOOL FOR THE FOREST INDUSTRY
Historically, forest product firms have focussed on process innovations rather than product innovations. Research has already shown that these firms often fail to have a structured process for new product development. By means of a comprehensive and wide-ranging interview programme, Eric Hansen at Oregon State University has applied a modified lead-user approach to identify user-lead ideas for innovation in the wood-window value chain, thus demonstrating the value of this approach to the industry. The paper highlights the challenges associated with the methodology.
A modified lead user approach for new product development: an illustration from the US of a marketing research tool for the forest industry. E. Hansen, C. Knowles and K. Larson, pp. 131–137
MASS TIMBER CONSTRUCTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONCRETE AND STEEL IN THE AUSTRALIA BUILDING INDUSTRY: A PESTEL EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL
Whilst mass timber construction methods such as CLT are well established in Europe but is in its infancy in Australia. In this paper by Paul Kremer at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, he has applied the PESTEL method to provide a structure for a strategic analysis of the technology. For those unfamiliar with this acronym, it stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal. Results suggest that a local plant producing mass timber products might be viable and warrants funding for a full feasibility assessment.
Mass timber construction as an alternative to concrete and steel in the Australia building industry: a PESTEL evaluation of the potential. P. D. Kremer and M. A. Symmons, pp. 138–147
HYDROPHOBIC TANNIN FOAMS
One of the most interesting bio-based materials developed in the last decade have been tannin-furanic foams. Tannin can be recovered from tannin rich species such as mimosa. The potential for formaldehyde free insulation materials is very great, but at present these foams have had a strong affinity to water. In this paper, Gianluca Tondi at Salzburg University investigates surface treatment with a direct infra-red beam that can dramatically reduce water affinity.
Hydrophobic tannin foams. G. Tondi and A. Petutschnigg, pp. 148–150
