Search Results (126)

The emission and presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air of houses and factories has been a growing topic of debate in the industry and related research fields. Given the extended times people in modern society spend indoors, monitoring VOCs is crucial due to the associated potential health hazards, with formaldehyde being particularly noteworthy. Wood and wood-based panels (WBPs) (the latter constituting a significant segment of the wood-transforming industry, being widely used in furniture, construction, and other applications) are known sources for the emission of VOCs to indoor air. In the case of the WBPs, the emission of VOCs depends on the type and species of wood, together with industrial processing and addition of additives. This review integrates perspectives on the production processes associated with WBPs, together with the evolving global regulations, and thoroughly examines VOC sources associated with WBPs, health risks from exposure, and current analytical methods utilized for VOC detection. It comprises an overview of the WBP industry, providing relevant definitions, descriptions of manufacturing processes and adhesive use, analysis of legal constraints, and explanations of VOC source identification and describing analysis techniques utilized for VOCs in WBPs. Full article

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are an emerging category of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable materials that are attracting significant research and commercial interest across various industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and biomedicine. These materials harness the natural growth of fungi as a low-energy bio-fabrication method, converting abundant agricultural by-products and waste into sustainable alternatives to energy-intensive synthetic construction materials. Their affordability and eco-friendly characteristics make them attractive for both research and commercialisation. Currently, mycelium-based foams and sandwich composites are being actively developed for applications in construction. These materials offer exceptional thermal insulation, excellent acoustic absorption, and superior fire safety compared to conventional building materials like synthetic foams and engineered wood. As a result, MBCs show great potential for applications in thermal and acoustic insulation. However, their foam-like mechanical properties, high water absorption, and limited documentation of material properties restrict their use to non- or semi-structural roles, such as insulation, panelling, and furniture. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the fabrication process and the factors affecting the production and performance properties of MBCs. It addresses key elements such as fungal species selection, substrate choice, optimal growth conditions, dehydration methods, post-processing techniques, mechanical and physical properties, termite resistance, cost comparison, and life cycle assessment. Full article

Paulownia elongata wood is characterized by rapid mass gain, but its limited mechanical strength hinders engineering applications. This study aimed to determine the effect of thermal modification in a steam atmosphere (at temperatures of 180 °C and 190 °C for 12 or 6 h with 3 or 6 h of steam dosing) on wood’s selected physicochemical and aesthetic properties. Color changes (CIELAB), chemical composition (FTIR), density, and compressive strength parallel to the grain were evaluated. The results showed a clear darkening of the wood, a shift in hues towards red and yellow, and an increase in color saturation depending on the treatment parameters. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed a reduction in hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, indicating thermal degradation of hemicelluloses and extractives. Wood density remained relatively stable, despite observed mass losses and reduced swelling. The most significant increase in compressive strength, reaching 27%, was achieved after 6 h of modification at 180 °C with a concurrent 6 h steam dosing time. The obtained results confirm that thermal treatment can effectively improve the functional and visual properties of paulownia wood, favoring its broader application in the furniture and construction industries. Full article

Next to solid wood, laminated particleboard is the most widely used wood-based material in the furniture industry. Ensuring the high quality of the laminate surface after machining is of critical importance for furniture manufacturers, particularly prior to the edge banding process, as this process significantly influences the final aesthetic and functional quality of panel elements. The objective of this review article is to gather and evaluate the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of machining process parameters and the physical and mechanical properties of laminated particleboard on machining quality. Particular emphasis is placed on the occurrence of laminate damage, commonly referred to as delamination, a prevalent defect in the furniture manufacturing sector. Both categories of influencing factors—process-related and material-related—are analyzed within the context of the three primary technological processes employed in the woodworking industry, namely drilling, cutting, and milling. The analysis revealed that a persistent research gap concerns the relationship between machining quality and material parameters, particularly in the case of milling—a process of critical importance in the furniture industry. Full article

As the wood and furniture industry moves towards the vision of Industry 5.0, a major challenge remains addressing the lack of competencies. This study examines the self-perceived digital and sustainability competencies of 433 final year students at different levels of wood science and technology education in Slovenia and compares them with the expectations of 28 industry stakeholders. Using the established competency frameworks of DigComp and GreenComp, which represent generic competencies, as well as 24 profession-specific competencies related to digitalization and sustainability, the study uses survey data analysis to identify possible discrepancies. The results suggest that students’ self-assessment increases only slightly with increasing educational level, while the expectations of industry stakeholders increase significantly more, leading to notable discrepancies. At the secondary level, stakeholders place greater emphasis on developing students’ generic digital and sustainability competencies, while at the tertiary level, they place increasing importance on profession-specific competencies. It is worth noting that some stakeholders assessed certain competencies as not required for graduates on certain level of education. The study highlights the need for coherent and vertically aligned curriculum structures that reflect evolving competency expectations at all qualification levels. The study shows several areas in which the discrepancy between students’ self-assessments and the expectations of industry stakeholders is particularly pronounced. It highlights the need to better align educational content with the needs identified by industry stakeholders, while recognizing the role of wider social partnership in curriculum development. Such alignment and collaboration is essential to equip graduates with the competencies they need to make a meaningful contribution to the digital and sustainable transformation of the wood and furniture sector. Full article

The thermal modification of wood has emerged as a sustainable and effective method for enhancing the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of wood without the use of harmful chemicals. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in thermal wood modification, focusing on the mechanisms of wood degradation during treatment and the resulting changes in the properties of the material. The benefits of thermal modification of wood include improved dimensional stability, increased resistance to biological decay, and improved durability, while potential risks such as reduced mechanical strength, color change, and higher costs of wood under certain conditions are also discussed. The review highlights recent advances in process optimization and evaluates the trade-offs between improved performance and possible structural drawbacks. Finally, future perspectives are outlined for sustainable applications of thermally modified wood in various industries. Emerging trends and future research directions in the field are identified, aiming to improve the performance and sustainability of thermally modified wood products in construction, furniture, and other industries. Full article

Although linear overproduction and overconsumption have benefited businesses, they have created an unsustainable society. Converting wood waste into construction material can support the transition to a circular economy. The mechanical properties of beams constructed from wood waste were measured. Squares with 50, 60, and 70 mm side lengths were glued to create beams, to which the three-point test method was applied parallel to the fibres. The stiffness and moduli of elasticity and rupture were analysed with standard industrial statistical techniques. Specifically, a two-stage analysis was performed using the normal distribution and Shewhart control charts. Changes of 100 mm in width and height and 200 mm in length caused a change of 200–400 N/mm² in elasticity and 500–1300 MNmm² in stiffness. Modulus of rupture values were relatively comparable, as they were determined by the properties of oak wood, from which the beams were made. The observed differences in the tested mechanical parameters will be useful in the optimisation of furniture construction, with our research suggesting that it is possible to predict mechanical properties from the dimensions of the waste-wood pieces. Ultimately, this should help to design sustainable furniture that is aesthetic, functional, and safe. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of eight softwood species most commonly used by Greek timber industries, including furniture manufacturers and companies producing roundwood, sawn timber, and plywood. The analysis was based on integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), using a combined approach of the PROMETHEE method and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), taking into consideration some important criteria that affect timber quality. According to the PROMETHEE complete ranking, Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) achieved the best performance under the selected criteria among the examined softwood species, underlying the importance of Aleppo pine to the Greek timber industry. Our findings could be highly beneficial to the wood industry, promoting the recovery and advancement of the forest sector in general, taking into account that sustainable wood supply is lower than the total biomass available in Europe. Policymakers should prioritize the selection of conifer tree species that can strengthen Greece’s forestry sector, promote sustainable management practices, and increase the economic value derived from the country’s diverse forest resources. Full article

There is a sizeable amount of sawdust produced from wood industries such as timber and furniture. In the past, sawdust has been utilized as a fuel source and in the manufacturing of furniture. Based on the limited use of sawdust, there is plenty of sawdust accessible from the industries. Sawdust is the material of choice due to its cost effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability. However, if sawdust is not appropriately disposed or utilized better, it may have negative impact on the aquatic life and organic products. Hence, this review paper discusses the best possible methods or proper routes for the utilization of sawdust to benefit the environment, society, and the economy at large. Sawdust possesses superior capabilities as a reinforcing filler in various polymer matrices for advanced applications. This paper provides an in-depth discussion on sawdust hybrid composites in comparison to other natural fibres hybrid composites. The applications of various sawdust hybrid polymer composites for specific systems are also mentioned. Furthermore, the morphology and preparation of the sawdust/polymer composites and/or sawdust hybrid polymers composites are also discussed since it is well known that the properties of the natural fibre composites are affected by the preparation method and the resultant morphology. Based on the above, the current paper also plays a critical role in providing more information about waste to value added products. Full article

The properties of wood change after heat treatment, affecting its applications. Glossiness, a key aesthetic property, is of great significance in fields like furniture. Precise prediction can optimize the process and improve product quality. Although the traditional back propagation neural network (BPNN) has been applied in the field of wood properties, it still has issues such as poor prediction accuracy. This study proposes an improved whale optimization algorithm (IWOA) to optimize BPNN, constructing an IWOA-BPNN model for predicting the glossiness of heat-treated wood. IWOA uses chaos theory and tent chaos mapping to accelerate convergence, combines with the sine cosine algorithm to enhance optimization, and adopts an adaptive inertia weight to balance search and exploitation. A dataset containing 216 data entries from four different wood species was collected. Through model comparison, the IWOA-BPNN model showed significant advantages. Compared with the traditional BPNN model, the mean absolute error (MAE) value decreased by 66.02%, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value decreased by 64.21%, the root mean square error (RMSE) value decreased by 69.60%, and the R² value increased by 12.87%. This model provides an efficient method for optimizing wood heat treatment processes and promotes the development of the wood industry. Full article

Wood-based panels (WBPs) have versatile structural applications and are a suitable alternative to plastic panels and metallic materials. They have appropriate strength parameters that provide the required stiffness and strength for furniture products and construction applications. WBPs are usually processed by cutting, milling and drilling. Especially in the furniture industry, the accuracy of processing is crucial for aesthetic reasons. Ensuring the WBP surface’s high quality in the production cycle is associated with the appropriate selection of processing parameters and tools adapted to the specificity of the processed material (properties of wood, glue, type of resin and possible contamination). Therefore, expert assessment of the durability of WBPs is difficult. The interest in the automatic monitoring of cutting tools in sustainable production, according to the concept of Industry 4.0, is constantly growing. The use of flexible automation in the machining of WBPs is related to the provision of tools monitoring the state of tool wear and surface quality. Drilling is the most common machining process that prepares panels for assembly operations and directly affects the surface quality of holes and the aesthetic appearance of products. This paper aimed to synthesize research findings across Medium-Density Fiberboards (MDFs), particleboards and oriented strand boards (OSBs), highlighting the impact of processing parameters and identifying areas for future investigation. This article presents the research trend in the adoption of the new general methodological assumptions that allow one to define both the drill condition and delamination monitoring in the drilling of the most commonly used wood-based boards, i.e., particleboards, MDFs and OSBs. Full article

Fiercer competition across all industries has made identifying and eliminating lean wastes to enhance sustainability performance an effective route that many companies take. This study focuses on the production process of wood park/garden benches at a company that manufactures outdoor wood furniture. The goal was to identify lean wastes within a sustainability framework across seven operations and integrate multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodologies for waste elimination. Eleven lean KPIs addressing economic and environmental sustainability were used to develop and prioritize 13 lean failure modes (LFMs) with Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) above 100, leading to lean project proposals for each LFM. Eighteen lean tools were ranked using the Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment (Fuzzy QFD) method. A total of eight improvement propositions, namely, Kaizen and continuous improvement, upgrade machinery for energy efficiency, Just-In-Time (JIT), optimize production processes with lean methodologies, implement cost reduction strategies, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Investing in Automation, and Andon were implemented. Significant improvements were observed post-implementation: total lead time was reduced by approximately 38.46%, value-added time by 22.05%, and non-value-added time by 47.64%. The required number of workers decreased by 14.29%, and the total inventory decreased by approximately 57.31%. The results contribute to sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption and waste while increasing economic efficiency. It also provides a robust framework for decision making in fuzzy environments, guiding practitioners and academics in lean management and sustainability. Full article

To address the issue of the deformation recovery in teakwood bending components when they undergo moisture absorption, the potential for superheated steam technology to improve the dimensional stability of the material and the means of optimizing this improvement were systematically analyzed. After setting a medium temperature, treatment time, and initial moisture content, we performed a 120 h water immersion test and dynamic thermo-mechanical analysis (DMA), which revealed the multi-scale mechanism by which superheated steam technology inhibits deformation recovery. It was shown that under the optimized conditions of 130 °C, a 2 h treatment time, and a 30% initial moisture content, the deformation recovery of water-immersed teakwood bending components could be reduced to 2.02–5.13%. The water-absorption resilience was decreased by 41.05% compared with the conventional drying and shaping, which was attributed to the synergistic effect of the degradation of hemicellulose and the cross-linking of lignin, which released residual stresses efficiently. Our investigation of the chemical–mechanical coupling revealed a significant positive correlation between the water-absorption resilience and the hemicellulose content (R² = 0.912), and the interaction of the chemical constituents resulted in a directional evolution of the energy storage modulus and loss modulus, which enhanced the stiffness of the material and effectively inhibited water-absorption resilience. This study provides a theoretical basis and process guidance for the efficient industrialization of solid wood bending components, which has important guiding value for the innovation of manufacturing technology for bending wood furniture. Full article

Carya dabieshanensis is a species of significant economic value due to its unique flavor and nutritional properties as a snack food, as well as its durable wood, which is highly suitable for furniture production. Known for its remarkable adaptability to environmental stress, this species serves as a valuable genetic resource for enhancing hickory cultivars. However, its restricted distribution and limited availability of high-quality germplasm have impeded large-scale cultivation and hindered industry development. While the genetic diversity and genomic basis of its environmental adaptation hold great promise for future breeding programs, no studies to date have utilized SNP markers to explore its genetic diversity or the genomic mechanisms underlying environmental adaptability. In this study, we analyzed 60 samples from 12 natural populations of C. dabieshanensis, representing its global distribution. Using the Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh. and K. Koch) genome as a reference, we employed Specific Locus Amplified Fragment Sequencing (SLAF-seq) to generate high-quality SNP data. By integrating population and landscape genomics approaches, we investigated the genetic structure and diversity of wild populations and identified key environmental factors driving genetic differentiation. Our population genomics analysis revealed 9,120,926 SNP markers, indicating substantial genetic diversity (π = 1.335 × 10⁻³ to 1.750 × 10⁻³) and significant genetic differentiation among populations (F_ST = 0.117–0.354). Landscape genomics analysis identified BIO3 (Isothermality), BIO6 (Min Temperature of Coldest Month), and BIO14 (Precipitation of Driest Month) as critical environmental factors shaping genetic diversity. This study provides essential insights into the genetic resources of C. dabieshanensis, facilitating the development of climate-resilient cultivars and offering a scientific foundation for the conservation and sustainable management of its wild populations. Full article

Wood is a naturally occurring renewable resource widely used in various industries, including in construction, packaging, furniture, and paneling. In Malaysia, 80% of furniture products are made from wood, making it a crucial material in this sector. Laser cutting is an advanced machining technique that enhances precision and minimizes material waste, yet its thermal effects, particularly the heat-affected zone (HAZ), remain a challenge. This study investigates how laser cutting parameters—including the laser power, traverse speed, and focus position—affect HAZ formation in two fast-growing Malaysian wood species, Acacia mangium and Azadirachta excelsa. This research seeks to determine the optimal laser settings that minimize HAZ dimensions while maintaining cutting precision. A diode laser cutting system was used to analyze the effects of three laser power levels (800, 1500, and 2400 mW), three traverse speeds (2, 5, and 10 mm/s), and three focus positions (on-focus, +0.2 mm, and −0.2 mm). We employed statistical analysis, including a two-way ANOVA, to assess the significance of these parameters and their interactions (p < 0.001). The results indicate that a higher laser power and slower speeds significantly increase the HAZ’s width and depth, with Azadirachta excelsa exhibiting a greater HAZ width but shallower penetration compared to Acacia mangium. A slight above-focus position (+0.2 mm) reduces the HAZ’s width, whereas a below-focus position (−0.2 mm) increases the HAZ’s depth. The optimal parameters for minimizing HAZ dimensions while ensuring efficient cutting were identified as a 1500 mW laser power, a 10 mm/s traverse speed, and an on-focus position (0 mm). This study provides practical insights into laser parameter optimization for tropical wood species, contributing to improved precision in laser machining and sustainable wood processing practices. These findings support industries in adopting advanced, high-quality laser cutting techniques tailored to fast-growing wood resources. Full article