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Wood Waste-Based Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 July 2023) | Viewed by 15439

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Center for Biomaterials, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, West Java 16911, Indonesia
Interests: wood adhesives; wood-based panels; wood adhesion; forest products technology; wood science and technology; polymer composites
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Guest Editor
Department of Wood Industry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang Branch Campus Jengka, Bandar Tun Razak 26400, Pahang, Malaysia
Interests: wood composites; wood treatments; wood adhesives; wood modification; polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The global demand for wood-based materials is projected to increase threefold between 2010 and 2050. In addition, using wood more efficiently to meet projected demands for development of wood-based composites is a key circular economy principle. The growing environmental concerns and recent legislative regulations, related to promoting the ‘cascading use’ of wood, i.e., prioritizing value-added non-fuel applications of wood resources, have posed new challenges to both industry and academia, related to the optimization of the available wood and lignocellulosic raw materials, recycling and reusing wood and wood-based composites, and search for alternative resources. 

Wood waste-based composites are CO2-neutral, renewable, biodegradable, and considered to be environmentally friendly. Wood waste-based composites should be defined as the material of the future thanks to the increased environmental awareness, scientific and technological possibilities and advances. Indeed, their increasing rational and sustainable use is obvious and inexhaustible. 

This Special Issue “Wood Waste-Based Composites” is aimed at collecting high-quality original research and review articles on topics including (but not limited to) the latest approaches in wood waste utilization; development of wood waste-based composites; advanced recycling of post-consumer solid wood and wood-based composites; cascading use of wood; life cycle assessment of wood composites; wood polymer composites; valorisation of bark for value-added chemicals and production of wood composites; biodegradable eco-friendly wood waste-based composites; application of nanomaterials to wood composites; non-wood lignocellulosic composites; advanced functionalities and application of wood-waste based composites. Uses of wood waste-based composites can be in furniture, structural or non-structural construction, and other environmentally-friendly products which can be used to guide the future choices of industry and society towards a more sustainable economy. 

We strongly encourage contributions from researchers and experts from all related fields in the form of original research works or review articles. 

With kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Roman Réh
Prof. Dr. Petar Antov
Dr. Ľuboš Krišťák
Dr. Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis
Dr. Seng Hua Lee
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • wood waste-based composites
  • waste
  • recycling
  • recovered wood
  • post-consumer wood
  • cascading use of wood
  • circular economy
  • life cycle assessment
  • biopolymer composites
  • lignocellulosic composites
  • reinforced composite structures
  • mechanical properties
  • nanotechnology and nanomaterials in wood composites

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3142 KiB  
Article
The Re-/Up-Cycling of Wood Waste in Wood–Polymer Composites (WPCs) for Common Applications
by Carmen-Alice Teacă, Asim Shahzad, Ioana A. Duceac and Fulga Tanasă
Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3467; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163467 - 19 Aug 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1977
Abstract
Wood–polymer composites (WPCs) are a class of materials intensively studied and promoted in the context of sustainable development, mainly when aspects related to the increasing awareness of environmental issues and waste management are considered. Feasible opportunities for producing WPCs with value-added properties intended [...] Read more.
Wood–polymer composites (WPCs) are a class of materials intensively studied and promoted in the context of sustainable development, mainly when aspects related to the increasing awareness of environmental issues and waste management are considered. Feasible opportunities for producing WPCs with value-added properties intended for common applications emerge when polymers, either synthetic or from renewable resources, raw or waste, are employed in re-/up-cycling approaches. In this context, some examples of easily achievable WPCs are presented herein, namely, formulations based on different wood waste and polymer matrices (synthetic: polypropylene and malleated polypropylene as a compatibilizer; natural: plasticized starch). Their level of performance was assessed through different characterization methods (FTIR, WAXD, TGA, DSC, mechanical test, etc.). The benefits and limitations of this approach are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Waste-Based Composites)
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11 pages, 1330 KiB  
Article
Fire Resistance Evaluation of New Wooden Composites Containing Waste Rubber from Automobiles
by Vladimír Mancel, Iveta Čabalová, Jozef Krilek, Roman Réh, Martin Zachar and Tereza Jurczyková
Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4465; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204465 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1826
Abstract
Particleboards containing waste rubber (tires and mixtures of isolators and carpets) filler were evaluated from the point of view of its flammability. The assessment of the utilization of these composites in the construction industry was analyzed through the determination of their spontaneous ignition [...] Read more.
Particleboards containing waste rubber (tires and mixtures of isolators and carpets) filler were evaluated from the point of view of its flammability. The assessment of the utilization of these composites in the construction industry was analyzed through the determination of their spontaneous ignition temperatures, mass burning rate and calorific value. Based on the results of spontaneous ignition temperatures, similar values between particleboards and particleboards containing 10%, 15% and 20% of waste tires were obtained. The average time was from 298 s to 309 s and the average temperature was from 428.1 °C to 431.7 °C. For the mass burning rate, there were similar results between particleboards and particleboards containing 10% of waste tires and waste rubber. The time to initiation was 34 s and the time to reaching a maximal burning rate was from 66 s to 68 s. The calorimetry results showed similar properties for the calorimetric value and ash content in particleboards and particleboards containing 10% of waste tires and waste rubber. The calorific value was from 18.4 MJ·kg−1 to 19.7 MJ·kg−1 and the ash content from 0.5% to 2.9%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Waste-Based Composites)
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22 pages, 3562 KiB  
Article
Modification of Ramie Fiber via Impregnation with Low Viscosity Bio-Polyurethane Resins Derived from Lignin
by Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis, Sucia Okta Handika, Rita Kartika Sari, Apri Heri Iswanto, Petar Antov, Lubos Kristak, Seng Hua Lee and Antonio Pizzi
Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2165; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112165 - 26 May 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2770
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to prepare low-viscosity lignin-based polyurethane (LPU) resins for the modification of ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) fiber via impregnation to improve the fiber’s thermal and mechanical properties. Low-viscosity LPU resins were prepared by dissolving lignin in [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to prepare low-viscosity lignin-based polyurethane (LPU) resins for the modification of ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) fiber via impregnation to improve the fiber’s thermal and mechanical properties. Low-viscosity LPU resins were prepared by dissolving lignin in 20% NaOH and then adding polymeric 4,4-methane diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI, 31% NCO) with a mole ratio of 0.3 NCO/OH. Ramie fiber was impregnated with LPU in a vacuum chamber equipped with a two-stage vacuum pump. Several techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and a universal testing machine were used to characterize lignin, LPU, and ramie fiber. The LPU resins had low viscosity ranging from 77 to 317 mPa·s−1. According to FTIR and EDX analysis, urethane bonds were formed during the synthesis of LPU resins and after impregnation into ramie fibers. After impregnation, the reaction between the LPU’s urethane group and the hydroxy group of ramie fiber increased thermal stability by an average of 6% and mechanical properties by an average of 100% compared to the untreated ramie fiber. The highest thermal stability and tensile strength were obtained at ramie impregnated with LPU-ethyl acetate for 30 min, with a residual weight of 22% and tensile strength of 648.7 MPa. This study showed that impregnation with LPU resins can enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of fibers and increase their wider industrial utilization in value-added applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Waste-Based Composites)
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16 pages, 25539 KiB  
Article
Fire Retardancy of Cementitious Panels with Larch and Spruce Bark as Bio-Admixtures
by Thomas Pacher, Marius Cătălin Barbu, Johannes Urstöger, Alexander Petutschnigg and Eugenia Mariana Tudor
Polymers 2022, 14(7), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14071469 - 4 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the production of fire-resistant panels made out of bark from spruce (Picea abies), larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and cement. This research included test panels produced from bark, cement, water and cement-bonded recycling [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to investigate the production of fire-resistant panels made out of bark from spruce (Picea abies), larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and cement. This research included test panels produced from bark, cement, water and cement-bonded recycling material aiming for the target density of 750 kg/m3. The physical (density, dimension stability, thickness swelling) and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and compressive strength together with fire resistance were tested. Considering the results, appealing values have been achieved: max. compressive strength: 3.42 N/mm2; max. thickness swelling: 5.48%; and density: 515 to 791 kg/m3. In principle, the properties of the produced panels depend not only on the density, but also on the hydration and, above all, on the compaction and the composition of the boards. The fire tests demonstrated that the produced panels have an enormous potential in terms of fire resistance and could be utilized for fire-retardant applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Waste-Based Composites)
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15 pages, 3191 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties of Cellulose and Flax Fiber Unidirectional Reinforced Plywood
by Johannes Jorda, Günther Kain, Marius-Catalin Barbu, Berndt Köll, Alexander Petutschnigg and Pavel Král
Polymers 2022, 14(4), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14040843 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2910
Abstract
This research presents the influence of two different cellulose (hydrophobic pretreated/non-pretreated) and one flax-fiber unidirectional nonwoven low areal weight fiber reinforcements on the mechanical properties of urea-formaldehyde bonded five layered beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) plywood as an alternative to commonly used synthetic [...] Read more.
This research presents the influence of two different cellulose (hydrophobic pretreated/non-pretreated) and one flax-fiber unidirectional nonwoven low areal weight fiber reinforcements on the mechanical properties of urea-formaldehyde bonded five layered beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) plywood as an alternative to commonly used synthetic fiber reinforcements. The results display divergent trends regarding the improvement of the mechanical properties—modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, tensile strength, shear strength, and screw withdrawal resistance. The non-treated cellulose and flax reinforcing nonwoven fabrics revealed similar mechanical behaviors. The hydrophobic pretreatment of cellulose nonwovens improved the performance of plywood regarding tensile strength (10–11%), shear strength (7–16%), screw withdrawal resistance (11–15%), and modulus of rupture (0–2%), but lowered modulus of elasticity (2–3%) compared to the reference. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Waste-Based Composites)
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12 pages, 3567 KiB  
Article
Selected Properties of Cement Bound Spruce and Larch Bark Bio-Aggregates
by Johannes Urstöger, Marius Cătălin Barbu, Thomas Pacher, Alexander Petutschnigg, Johannes Jorda and Eugenia Mariana Tudor
Polymers 2021, 13(24), 4438; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13244438 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2580
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the suitability of spruce and larch bark for the production of cement-bonded composites. At the beginning of this research, the curing behaviour of the admixtures was quantified with temperature profiles when testing spruce, larch, pine [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to investigate the suitability of spruce and larch bark for the production of cement-bonded composites. At the beginning of this research, the curing behaviour of the admixtures was quantified with temperature profiles when testing spruce, larch, pine and poplar bark, to determine the compatibility between the components of the bio-aggregates, to analyse the cement curing and to establish which bark species should be successfully included in cement bonded composites. Considering the results, it was observed that the average densities of 600–700 kg/m3 of bio-aggregates are 40–55% lower than that of established products on the market, although spruce and larch bark are in a similar range. The situation is different for the compressive strength, as larch bark showed up to 30% higher values than spruce bark. This study revealed also different hardening characteristics of the two cement types used as binders for spruce and larch bark. The results of this study demonstrated that tree bark of Picea abies and Larix decidua Mill. can be successfully utilized for the production of a cement-bonded composite material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Waste-Based Composites)
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