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Eco-Friendly Wood-Based Composites—Challenges and Prospects

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 563

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Mechanical Wood Technology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 38/42, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Interests: wood sciences and technology; wood-based materials; lignocellulosic composites; adhesives; adhesives modification; bio-based adhesives; formaldehyde emission
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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Interests: glulam beams; adhesives; wood-based materials; mechanical properties; timber properties; wood defects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern materials engineering challenges researchers and industry to develop sustainable, high-performance materials that are environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional raw materials. Wood and wood-based materials, especially in the form of composites and wood–polymer hybrid structures, play a major role in modern material solutions. This Special Issue focuses on eco-friendly wood-based materials, composites, and wood–polymer hybrids, with particular attention paid to their application in various industries, such as construction, the furniture industry, and other industries where these materials can replace traditional raw materials. Special attention will be paid to the use of alternative wood and non-wood raw materials in the production of wood-based panels, as well as modern methods of reinforcing these materials, with emphases on the use of synthetic materials, biopolymers, and eco-friendly binding agents. We are interested in innovative methods of modifying wood and composites, including technologies for manufacturing, structural optimization, and improving the mechanical, thermal, and resistance properties of materials. In addition, we encourage research on synthetic and bio-based binding agents that can be used in the production of wood-based materials, especially in the context of increasing their durability and resistance to weathering and mechanical damage. As part of this issue, we will also consider modern methods of finishing the surface of wood-based materials, which will provide additional protection for composites against mechanical damage, moisture, UV radiation, and other external factors, while maintaining the ecological character of these materials.  

Dr. Dorota Dukarska
Dr. Jakub Kawalerczyk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • eco-innovations
  • wood-based materials
  • wood–polymer composites
  • bio-based hybrid polymer composites
  • alternative raw materials in the production of wood-based materials
  • eco-friendly bonding agents
  • modification of adhesive resins
  • wood modification
  • modification of composites
  • green composites
  • eco-friendly polymers in wood-based materials production
  • bio-based coatings for wood and wood-based materials
  • bio-based polymers for wood preservation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2672 KiB  
Article
Green Composite Based on a Polymer Mixture Containing Biopolymer and Waste Coffee Husks
by Cezary Gozdecki, Marek Kociszewski, Krzysztof Moraczewski, Tomasz Karasiewicz, Małgorzata Łazarska and Magdalena Stepczyńska
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1748; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131748 - 24 Jun 2025
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Abstract
This study presents the results of investigations into the properties of a composite made from the commercial biopolymer with varying concentrations of ground coffee husks (CH) at 10, 30, and 50 wt%. Thermal, thermomechanical, physical, and mechanical properties were determined for the composites. [...] Read more.
This study presents the results of investigations into the properties of a composite made from the commercial biopolymer with varying concentrations of ground coffee husks (CH) at 10, 30, and 50 wt%. Thermal, thermomechanical, physical, and mechanical properties were determined for the composites. Results indicate that the inclusion of CH into the polymer matrix significantly enhances the thermomechanical properties of the obtained composites, particularly in terms of storage modulus at 30 °C. The addition of coffee filler did not alter the characteristic thermal curves. Still, it reduced the thermal resistance of the composites, lowering the degradation temperature by approximately 40 °C compared to the pure polymer. Furthermore, the incorporation of CH introduced an additional stage of mass loss on the thermogravimetric curves, associated with the thermal decomposition of CH. The physico-mechanical properties of the composite depend on the content of the filler. Increasing the coffee content increases the dynamics of water absorption by the composite. It also increases the composite’s stiffness while reducing its tensile and flexural strength. The obtained results suggest that biopolymer-based composites filled with ground CH can be effectively used for manufacturing biodegradable products, with the moisture diffusion behavior indicating susceptibility to degradation that is modulated by the CH content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Wood-Based Composites—Challenges and Prospects)
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Review

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35 pages, 4148 KiB  
Review
Alternative Wood Raw Material Sources in Particleboard and OSB Production—Challenges and Perspectives
by Dorota Dukarska, Jakub Kawalerczyk, Ján Sedliačik, Petar Antov and Mehr Unisa
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1760; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131760 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 189
Abstract
This review examines the potential use of alternative wood raw materials, including fast-growing plantation species, juvenile wood, non-plantation species, and recycled wood, in the production of particleboard (PB) and oriented strand board (OSB). In light of the ongoing challenges faced by the wood-based [...] Read more.
This review examines the potential use of alternative wood raw materials, including fast-growing plantation species, juvenile wood, non-plantation species, and recycled wood, in the production of particleboard (PB) and oriented strand board (OSB). In light of the ongoing challenges faced by the wood-based industry in securing a stable and sustainable supply of raw materials, these alternatives present several advantages, such as cost-effectiveness, greater availability, and reduced reliance on natural forest resources. Fast-growing plantation species and juvenile wood are particularly suited for lightweight applications, while non-plantation species and recycled wood contribute to sustainability goals by lowering environmental impact and promoting resource efficiency. Nonetheless, the successful integration of these materials requires overcoming certain challenges, including variability in their physical and mechanical properties, as well as the need for tailored adhesive systems and processing parameters. This review examines strategies to optimize production processes and enhance the utilization of waste materials while emphasizing the role of alternative raw materials in advancing circular economy principles. The findings highlight the importance of future research to improve material knowledge, technological solutions, and industry practices, thereby supporting the sustainable development of the wood-based materials sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Wood-Based Composites—Challenges and Prospects)
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