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Division of Forest and Forest Resources

Increased valorisation of domestic timber by a novel wood modification system

Finished Last updated: 31.12.2022
End: dec 2022
Start: jan 2020

Sustainable forestry providing timber, solves societal challenges with green chemistry, giving economical growth through durable wood products

Status Concluded
Start - end date 21.01.2020 - 31.12.2022
Division Division of Forest and Forest Resources
Department Wood Technology
Funding source The Norwegian Research Council

Wood modification provides dimensional stability and extends the service life of wood by minimising threats from biological attack. Modified wood has gained market share in Europe across a range of Use Classes. A novel wood modification system using a combination of sorbitol and citric acid in wood has shown enhanced properties such as increased dimensional stability, increased durability against decay fungi and less susceptibility to blue-stain fungi. Many domestic timber species are not used for wood modification because of their refractory behaviour, inhomogeneity or small and variable dimensions. However, fast growing spruce and underutilized birch, as well as Scots pine are all candidates for wood modification. In addition, reducing the wood dimensions, for example cutting veneer, would make it easier to treat and modify the material. Utilizing glueing and self-laminating properties of such modified veneer for engineered wood products would broaden the application portfolio.

The main objective of ValorWood is to further develop a novel wood modification system from bench scale to pilot scale and to provide new use areas for Norwegian wood species. Treatment and process will be optimized, material properties will be evaluated, the environmental impact and the economic feasibility will be analysed.

Publications in the project