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Polymers
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New Challenges in Wood and Wood-Based Materials, 4th Edition
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New Challenges in Wood and Wood-Based Materials, 4th Edition

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 1919

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ľuboš Krišťák

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, SK-960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
Interests: physics; materials; thermal properties; wood sciences; wood physics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Roman Réh

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, SK-960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
Interests: wood-based composites; wood adhesives
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Pavlo Bekhta

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Guest Editor
Department of Wood-Based Composites, Cellulose and Paper, Ukrainian National Forestry University, 79057 Lviv, Ukraine
Interests: wood science and technology; wood–polymer composites; lignocellulosic based composites; wood modification; wood bonding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Luigi Todaro

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Guest Editor
School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Science (SAFE), University of Basilicata, V.le Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Interests: wood characterization; extractives; natural resource management; wood modification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wood is a natural material, available in large quantities and easy to produce, making it the perfect material to consider for the circular economy. Its importance has dramatically increased in recent years. This increase is accompanied by the development of new research methods which open up new possibilities in areas related to wood and wood products in terms of their production, processing and final use. The main topics of this Special Issue include the following: knowledge of the quality of wood and other lignocellulose materials in relation to their effective utilization and more efficient processing; the adoption of techniques and research on the use of wood for the production of environmentally friendly composite and the positive impact that this has on the environment; the interaction of wood with solid substances and with different mechanical loads, chemical and other substances and different forms of energy; the surface modification of wood and wood composites.

Dr. Ľuboš Krišťák
Prof. Dr. Roman Réh
Prof. Dr. Pavlo Bekhta
Dr. Luigi Todaro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wood and wood based materials
  • wood composite materials
  • adhesives for composites
  • wood processing and mechanical modification
  • surface modification of wood and wood composites
  • chemical and thermal modification of wood and wood composites

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2274 KB  
Article
Dimensional Stability of Beech Wood: The Influence of Taper, Slope of Annual Ring and Sawing Pattern
by Peter Vilkovský, Tatiana Vilkovská, Ivan Klement and Martin Fúčela
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3158; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233158 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 236
Abstract
The dimensional stability of sawn timber is one of the key factors affecting processing and final application in various fields, such as construction, furniture making, and interior design. One of the most common problems that beech wood producers may confront is the occurrence [...] Read more.
The dimensional stability of sawn timber is one of the key factors affecting processing and final application in various fields, such as construction, furniture making, and interior design. One of the most common problems that beech wood producers may confront is the occurrence of various types of warping (deformation) during drying. These warps significantly affect the processability of sawn timber, which can lead to reduced yield and economic losses. Several factors can affect dimensional stability. These factors include the sawing pattern, the position of the timber in the log, and the slope of the annual rings. Our research investigated these factors and focused on two types of warping: cup and twist. The results showed a notable influence of the original position of the timber in the log on the degree of cup warping after drying (r = 0.5194; p = 0.0189), with timber closer to the perimeter exhibiting less curvature. The sawing pattern (parallel to the surface of the log—RsP; parallel to the axis of the log—RsO) had a less significant effect but showed a tendency towards curvature (r = 0.4242; p = 0.0623). Based on the sawing pattern, after drying, the twist warping was more pronounced in RsP logs, while RsO cuts retained better shape stability and had only minimal cup warping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in Wood and Wood-Based Materials, 4th Edition)
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18 pages, 28407 KB  
Article
Dynamic Weathering Behavior of Heat-Treated Chinese Fir: Surface Properties, Chemical Composition, and Microstructure
by Yun Liu, Chenggong Gao, Qingbo Wang, Bekbolati Hadili, Yufeng Miao, Xinjie Cui and Junji Matsumura
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3143; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233143 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 342
Abstract
Heat-treated wood is widely used for its eco-friendliness and aesthetic appeal. However, it is prone to fading under ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which diminishes its decorative effect and shortens its service life. To clarify the performance evolution and degradation mechanisms of heat-treated wood, Chinese [...] Read more.
Heat-treated wood is widely used for its eco-friendliness and aesthetic appeal. However, it is prone to fading under ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which diminishes its decorative effect and shortens its service life. To clarify the performance evolution and degradation mechanisms of heat-treated wood, Chinese fir, treated at 190 °C under vacuum, was subjected to artificial weathering, and the dynamic changes in surface appearance, chemical composition, and microstructure were monitored. The results show that after artificial weathering, both heat-treated and untreated wood exhibited similar surface color change trends, characterized by darkening, yellowing, and reddening, but heat treatment significantly inhibited surface color changes. After 372 h of weathering, the total color change of heat-treated wood (ΔE = 24.05) was smaller than that of the untreated wood (ΔE = 37.78), and its yellowness index (b* = 58.93%) was also far lower than the untreated group (b* = 119.85%). Additionally, the gloss of heat-treated Chinese fir increased by 17% during weathering. However, as weathering progressed, the protective effect of heat treatment on the appearance gradually weakened, and it could not prevent long-term structural breakdown. The improved color stability is closely linked to condensed lignin and unsaturated phenolic chromophores, while the preferential thermal decomposition of hemicelluloses creates “weathering-vulnerable zones”. This study provides both a theoretical basis for understanding the weathering behavior of heat-treated wood and practical guidance for optimizing wood protection technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in Wood and Wood-Based Materials, 4th Edition)
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17 pages, 1994 KB  
Article
Impact of Short- and Long-Term Exposure to Engineered Wood (Plywood and Particle Board) on Immune and Oxidative Biomarkers: A C57BL/6 Mouse Model Study
by Hui Ma, Keon-Ho Kim, Chang-Deuk Eom, Md. Habibur Rahman, Johny Bajgai, Sofian Abdul-Nasir, Chaodeng Mo, Won-Joung Hwang, Seong Hoon Goh, Bomi Kim, Kyu-Jae Lee, Jiyoon Yang and Cheol-Su Kim
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131794 - 27 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1057
Abstract
Plywood and particle boards, commonly used in construction and interior environments, are sources of indoor chemical emissions from synthetic adhesives, resins, and surface treatments. Among these, formaldehyde, classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and other [...] Read more.
Plywood and particle boards, commonly used in construction and interior environments, are sources of indoor chemical emissions from synthetic adhesives, resins, and surface treatments. Among these, formaldehyde, classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and other compounds are associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and organ toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicological and physiological effects of plywood and particleboard emissions in female C57BL/6 mice. The mice were exposed to formaldehyde, phytoncides, and untreated wood samples under short- (30–60 days) and long-term (120–180 days) conditions. Biological effects were assessed through histopathology of major organs, differential white blood cell counts, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and glutathione peroxidase), liver and kidney function tests (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine), and inflammatory cytokine profiling (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-12p70). These findings revealed no significant pathological changes or systemic toxicity following long-term exposure. Minor elevations in hepatic and renal biomarkers were observed but remained within physiological limits. Antioxidant responses and cytokine fluctuations suggested mild adaptive and immunomodulatory effects. These results highlight the importance of reducing emissions from engineered wood products to improve indoor air quality and minimize potential health risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges in Wood and Wood-Based Materials, 4th Edition)
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