Wood Modification: Functionalisation, Optimisation and Characterisation of Modified Timbers

Dear Colleagues,

Wood modification techniques such as thermal modification, acetylation, and furfurylation have been well studied and their products are commercially available. Many other modification systems for wood that utilize resins, bio-based chemicals, biopolymers, and novel combinations of heat, pressure, steam, or other active components remain under development. Further developments have employed aspects of wood modification to achieve functionalised surfaces for a wide range of innovative applications.

The majority of wood modification systems seek to enhance dimensional stability, while many also extend the service life of wood and provide durability and resistance to fungal decay, weathering, or insect and marine borer attacks. It is also possible to use modification to alter mechanical properties, fatigue, impact resistance or other aspects such as abrasion, wear resistance and hardness. Other options include combinations of chemical modification techniques in multi-step treatments or in combination with nanotechnology approaches.

In recent years, innovation in wood modification has focused on three main aspects: combining modifications to increase the range of benefits offered; seeking bio-based or green chemistry modifications; and introducing nanotechnologies to provide innovative functional materials. Another concern is reducing the embodied carbon of the modification processes to retain wood’s excellent credentials as an environmentally benign material. Papers that address all these aspects are welcome in this Special Issue of Forests.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Thermal modification;
• Chemical modification;
• Passive chemical modification;
• Bio-based polymers, resins, and reagents for modification;
• Novel combined modification systems;
• Nanotechnology in wood modifications;
• Sustainability in wood modification;
• Service life and durability of modified wood;
• Properties of modified wood.

Dr. Morwenna Spear
Dr. Miklós Bak
Guest Editors

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