This study examines the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of four wood species: oak (Quercus petraea L), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and cedar (Cedrus libani). Samples were subjected to heat treatment at 175 °C and 205 °C, and their bending strength, modulus of elasticity, compression strength, dynamic bending (shock) strength, column strength, and hardness were compared with untreated controls. Results revealed that wood species, treatment temperature and their interaction significantly influenced all mechanical properties. Oak consistently showed the highest performance, while cedar exhibited the lowest values. Heat treatment caused notable reductions in mechanical properties, with losses ranging from 0.2 % to 52.2 % at 175 °C and increasing further at 205 °C. The reduction is attributed to the thermal degradation of wood components such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, leading to weakened cell walls and increased brittleness. Lower temperatures primarily produced a pre-treatment and drying effect, while higher temperatures intensified chemical degradation. Among the properties tested, bending strength, modulus of elasticity and hardness were most affected. The findings demonstrate that heat treatment significantly alters the mechanical performance of wood, and these changes must be considered in structural and engineering applications where strength and durability are critical factors. It has been determined that the mechanical property changes of needleleaved and broad-leaved wood samples subjected to thermal treatment at both 175 °C and 205 °C in the samechamber are similar. It has been suggested that thermal treatment of both wood types could be carried out at a slightly higher chamber temperature (above 175 °C), thereby achieving a much closer thermal treatment effect for both wood types and potentially achieving significant energy savings.
This study presents the results of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) predictions with the aim of optimizing the process of beech plywood and HDF laser cutting. A survey is given of the results of predictions of cutting kerf parameters made by Artificial Neural Networks to cover a wide spread of CO2 laser parameters, as well as the results of experimental cutting with maximum laser power (P) equal to 135 W and maximum feed rate (v) equal to 20 mm/s. Validity of the best neural network was checked versus overfitting of the best neural networks, confirmed according to r value of the model (minimum 0.971), MAPE (%) (maximum 6.21 %) and compared with the results of other authors. The article also presents the effect of energy density values E on values of cutting kerf parameters and their variance. The results show that the optimal value of laser power (P) and feed rate (v) for beech plywood are (200-300 W; 10-15 mm/s), while for more dense and more homogenous high-density fibreboard (HDF) they are (300-500 W; 5-10 mm/s). Optimal energy densities (E) are then 133 MJ/m2 for beech plywood and 433 MJ/m2 for HDF. Similar as for other wooden materials, it follows that more dense species of wood should be cut with higher values of energy densities. The results can be applied to reduce the material and energy demands by optimizing the quality of cut with minimum symmetrical kerf widths.
Artificial wood drying is an energy-intensive industrial process with major economic and environmental implications. This study evaluates the energy performance of convective and vacuum drying in a Hungarian wood-processing plant, with separate analysis of one summer and one winter convective cycle. For convective drying, measured energy use was compared with literature-based theoretical estimates. The measured thermal demand exceeded the theoretical estimate by approximately 17 % in winter, whereas the summer deviation remained within ± 4 %. Electrical demand was markedly lower in summer; however, as only full-kiln electricaldata were available, this difference is interpreted cautiously as the combined effect of fan duty, cycle duration, moisture condition, and seasonal operating context rather than as a direct fan-level effect. On an annual total basis, the vacuum dryer consumed only about one-quarter to one-fifth as much energy as the convective system, but on a specific volume basis it showed substantially higher electrical demand. The results indicate that industrial wood-drying energy performance may be improved through heat recovery, improved thermal insulation, and more adaptive fan-control strategies. As the convective analysis was based on only two industrial cycles, the findings should be interpreted as site-specific evidence rather than generally transferable performance relationships.
Bio-based wood composites bonded with wheat protein represent a sustainable alternative to conventional formaldehyde-based panels; however, their high moisture sensitivity limits dimensional stability and functional reliability. This study comparatively evaluated the effect of incorporating equivalent low dosages (5 wt.% dry basis) of wood ash and boron salts on the hygroscopic behavior of sawdust composites manufactured under identical formulation and processing conditions. By maintaining constant raw material, adhesive system, and consolidation parameters, the experimental design enabled direct assessment of additive performance within the same lignocellulosic matrix. Hygroscopic response was characterized through short-term water immersiontests, analyzing density, hygroexpansion, and water absorption index. Relative to the unmodified control, both additives produced statistically significant improvements with large effect sizes. Wood ash increased bulk density and markedly reduced water uptake, indicating microstructural modification and partial pore blocking. Boron salts achieved the greatest reduction in hygroexpansion, suggesting chemical stabilization of cell-wall polymers. The results demonstrate that even low mineral additions can substantially modify short-term moisture response without compromising adhesive consolidation. These findings provide controlled comparative evidence supporting the use of low-cost inorganic additives to enhance the dimensional stability of sustainable wood composites intended for interior applications.
This research endeavor seeks to address the scientific challenge of discerning recurring patterns of price fluctuation in both international and national markets for timber and other forest-derived goods. Databases on prices for forest products have been created, which required careful processing and structuring of the data obtained: the information is structured into tables; search systems and visualization of dashboards in excel have been implemented; regular updates are carried out. Based on the created databases on prices for forest products, time series of prices with different interval time lags (monthly average, quarterly average and annual average) have been developed, considering market segments. The primary statistical analysis of price time series with the definition of statistical indicators was carried out. A comprehensive analysis of the data obtained from various sources allowed us to compile a detailed picture of the price dynamics of forest products, namely to: Determine the structure of the dynamics of prices for forest products; Identify promising areas of activity, taking into account the growing demand for certain types of forest products and the reduction in consumption of other types of products; Predict price dynamics: knowing the trends in prices for forest products allows enterprises to more accurately forecast their profits and plan investments; Assess the competitiveness of Russian timber products in the domestic and global markets.
This study investigates the influence of different bleaching systems on the thermal aging behavior of old newspaper pulps (ONP) under controlled laboratory conditions. Hydrogen peroxide, sodium dithionite, and formamidine sulfinic acid (FAS) were applied at their respective optimum dosages, and the resulting pulps were subjected to accelerated aging at (103 + 2) degrees C for up to 240 h. Aging was evaluated as a multidimensional process rather than being limited to brightness changes. Optical properties were assessed together with mechanical strength retention and structural modifications associated with hornification and pore evolution. Brightness, whiteness, yellowness, and color difference (Delta E) were measured alongside breaking length, burst index, Cobb water absorption, and air permeability to characterize the overall response of the fiber network during thermal exposure. Statistical analysis was performed using one-wayANOVA followed by Duncans'multiple range test. Distinct differences were observed among the bleaching systems. Peroxide-treated pulps maintained relatively stable optical and mechanical performance during aging. In contrast, dithionite-bleached samples showed pronounced color reversion and a reduction in strength. FAS-treated pulps exhibited intermediate behavior. The results indicate that initial brightness gain alone is insufficient to predict long-term performance, emphasizing the need to consider durability under thermal conditions when selecting bleaching strategies for recycled paper.
Furniture is an engineered structure that is subjected to various loads throughout its service life. As a result, to guarantee that furniture satisfies the standards of the target market for strength and durability, it must be designed and constructed with the appropriate strength features. This study, therefore, assesses the structural and aesthetic performance of three chairs made from West African Tall Coco Wood (Cocos nucifera) using three traditional joints: mortise and tenon, halving, and dowel joints. With rising demand for sustainable alternatives to tropical hardwoods, coco wood represents an underutilised yet promising material in Ghana’s furniture sector. The coco wood was obtained from the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District in the Central Region of Ghana. The chairs were produced at the Asuansi Technical Institute and were tested at the laboratory of the Wood Mechanic and Furniture Testing Centre (FORIG), Kumasi, according to European Standards (EN 1022 and EN 1728). The results indicate that mortise and tenon joints performed best, followed by halving joints and dowel joints. On the aesthetic side, coco wood was found to be visually attractive and comparable to many commonly used hardwoods, thus making it suitable for furniture that does not undergo heavy use. Overall, the study suggests that coco wood can be a sustainable and eco-friendly material choice for light to medium furniture. Mortise and tenon joints are recommended for furniture that requires load-bearing. Dowel and halving joints are suitable for secondary and decorative purposes. The study demonstrates the potential for wider adoption of coco wood in Ghana’s furniture sector and provides guidance for improved joint selection and furniture design.
Digital twin technology enables intelligent manufacturing and supports digital transformation. However, its use in customised furniture quality control is limited, due to issues such as inefficient traceability, slow response times, and predictive barriers. To address the fragmented quality management across stages, this study introduces a comprehensive framework that extends digital twins beyond workshops to the entire product lifecycle-design, warehousing, production, and after-sales. Adopting a design science research approach, we have developed a digital twin model for workshop quality control and a full lifecycle management approach, focused on three key pillars: lifecycle quality data management, high-fidelity virtual simulation, and real-virtual interaction. It thereby establishes a pathway to improve the accuracy and efficiency of quality control, which can lower costs, shorten delivery cycles, and accelerate digital transformation for furniture enterprises.
The study investigates the production of harvested wood products in Slovenia by applying the volumetric material flow analysis (MFA) from processed roundwood to secondary product. The study provides the methodological approach for data collection and consistency assessment to support nation-wide wood MFA by complementing FAOSTAT data with selected data categories of PRODCOM data. Consistency between the two datasets was found to be satisfactory, suggesting that the two datasets can together support wood product MFA. However, for PRODCOM to be applied without extensive prior analysis, further methodological improvements of the databases would be required. MFA for Slovenia for the period 1994-2021 was carried out to understand pathways and magnitudes of wood flows in Slovenia. The MFA demonstrated that for many secondary products produced in Slovenia, there is clearly a lack of domestic resources (veneer, particle boards, and sulphite chemical and mechanical wood pulp). On the contrary, despite the abundance of the primary resource, few secondary products are made using non-coniferous wood. This research highlights the importance of detailed and accurate wood product data to support the MFA in identifying missed opportunities to create value and/or reduce environmental footprint of the national wood products industry.
Bio-based wood composites bonded with wheat protein represent a sustainable alternative to conventional formaldehyde-based panels; however, their high moisture sensitivity limits dimensional stability and functional reliability. This study comparatively evaluated the effect of incorporating equivalent low dosages (5 wt.% dry basis) of wood ash and boron salts on the hygroscopic behavior of sawdust composites manufactured under identical formulation and processing conditions. By maintaining constant raw material, adhesive system, and consolidation parameters, the experimental design enabled direct assessment of additive performance within the same lignocellulosic matrix. Hygroscopic response was characterized through short-term water immersiontests, analyzing density, hygroexpansion, and water absorption index. Relative to the unmodified control, both additives produced statistically significant improvements with large effect sizes. Wood ash increased bulk density and markedly reduced water uptake, indicating microstructural modification and partial pore blocking. Boron salts achieved the greatest reduction in hygroexpansion, suggesting chemical stabilization of cell-wall polymers. The results demonstrate that even low mineral additions can substantially modify short-term moisture response without compromising adhesive consolidation. These findings provide controlled comparative evidence supporting the use of low-cost inorganic additives to enhance the dimensional stability of sustainable wood composites intended for interior applications.
The forest products industry makes significant contributions to national economies in terms of basic economic indicators such as employment, expansion into rural areas, added value, investment and exports. This study aims to measure the innovation perception, awareness and competitiveness of small and medium-sized forest products enterprises operating in local areas on the basis of different variables. Within the scope of the study, a data collection tool including on-site observation, interviews and the developed scale was used on enterprises located in a local administrative region. The data obtained were subjected to hypothesis testing and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that the perception of innovation in small and medium-sized forest products industry enterprises is affected by demographic factors related to the enterprise managers, and basic factors related to the enterprise such as the number of employees, field of activity, duration of activity, annual average income, and product distribution channels. Furthermore, it has been determined that innovation awareness decreases as the scale of the enterprises shrinks. As a result, it can be said that the innovation and competition characteristics that are valid in the global and national forest products industry market are not yet fully applicable to local-scale and low-capacity enterprises.
center dot Wood bending has a wide range ofpossible uses, such as in making bentfurniture, musical instruments, and sporting goods. The study is centred on using a full factorial design of experiments to understand the main and interaction effects of factors like ammonia (20 % and 25 %), NaOH (2.5 % and 0 %), temperature (90 degrees C and room temperature), and additives (10 % polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 10 % fabric conditioner (FC) on the bending properties of Populus deltoides wood specimens of size 20.3 cm & times; 1 cm & times; 1 cm. Two levels of each factor were used to find the response to wood bending properties. Deflection to the load ratio (D/L) was evaluated for the treated specimens using a universal testing machine. The ease of bending, bending defects, and spring-back properties of bent wood were also evaluated. Results indicate that NaOH and temperature have significant influences on the D/L ratio and ease of bending. The bending defect was influenced not only by factors like use of NaOH and temperature but also by the interaction effect between ammonia-NaOH and NaOH-temperature. Although the effect of ammonia on wood bending was significant, no difference was found between the two ammonia concentrations (20 % and 25 %) on the bending properties of the wood. Factors such as FC and PEG did not exhibit any significant influences on wood bending properties. These findings suggest that focusing on factors like NaOH, temperature, and ammonia would be more effective in achieving the desired wood bending outcomes.
center dot Artificial wood drying is an energy-intensive industrial process with major economic and environmental implications. This study evaluates the energy performance of convective and vacuum drying in a Hungarian wood-processing plant, with separate analysis of one summer and one winter convective cycle. For convective drying, measured energy use was compared with literature-based theoretical estimates. The measured thermal demand exceeded the theoretical estimate by approximately 17 % in winter, whereas the summer deviation remained within +/- 4 %. Electrical demand was markedly lower in summer; however, as only full-kiln electrical data were available, this difference is interpreted cautiously as the combined effect of fan duty, cycle duration, moisture condition, and seasonal operating context rather than as a direct fan-level effect. On an annual total basis, the vacuum dryer consumed only about one-quarter to one-fifth as much energy as the convective system, but on a specific volume basis it showed substantially higher electrical demand. The results indicate that industrial wood-drying energy performance may be improved through heat recovery, improved thermal insulation, and more adaptive fan-control strategies. As the convective analysis was based on only two industrial cycles, the findings should be interpreted as site-specific evidence rather than generally transferable performance relationships.
This study presents an industrial-scale evaluation of a 100 m3 per batch solar-steam hybrid wood drying system operating under tropical climate conditions in Vietnam. A full drying cycle of approximately 480 hours was performed on 13-mm Acacia mangium lumber using a multi-point monitoring system that recorded dry-and wet-bulb temperatures, relative humidity, air velocity, solar irradiance, and the thermal and electrical energy inputs at 10-minute intervals. The integrated roof collector achieved an average thermal efficiency of similar to 46 % (peaking at similar to 52 %), delivering 15,687 kWh of useful heat and supplying 40-52 % of the daytime thermal demand. Compared with a conventional steam kiln, the hybrid system reduced biomass consumption by 50 %, electricity use by 34.3 %, and total energy input by 45.2 %. The Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) decreased from 1.99 to 1.09 kWh/kg of water removed (- 45.2 %), confirming hypothesis H1. The solar fraction reached 44.3 % (thermal basis) and 33.8 % (total basis), supporting hypothesis H3. Wood quality assessments following TCVN 8929/8930 showed that the hybrid kiln maintained comparable levels of product quality, with surface and internal check rates of 2.8 % and 1.0 %, respectively. The average warping was 2.2 mm, exhibiting an improving trend compared with the control kiln (p = 0.054), thereby further supporting hypothesis H2. Environmental analysis following IPCC 2006/2019 guidelines indicated that the hybrid system reduced non-biogenic CO2 emissions by 34.3 %, consistent with hypothesis H4. Overall energy costs decreased by 38.7 % per batch, resulting in a payback period of approximately 3.04 years, which remained below 4 years under CAPER variations of +/- 20 %. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that the solar-steam hybrid system is an efficient, stable, and economically viable solution for industrial wood drying under tropical conditions, contributing to reduced fossil-based CO2 emissions and supporting sustainable production pathways.
This study evaluates the combustion and mechanical behavior of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) wood impregnated with aqueous solutions of various commercial fertilizers–specifically calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), triple superphosphate (TSP), and their 1:1 weight-based mixture (CAN+TSP). These fertilizers were selected for their known flame-inhibiting potential due to their ammonium and phosphorus content. Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADF), a widely accepted reference fire retardant, was included for comparison. Specimens were treated with 3 %, 6 %, and 9 % aqueous solutions of fertilizers and ADF and subjected to combustion testing based on ASTM E69, including measurements of mass loss, temperature, CO emissions, time to extinction, and collapse. Mechanical performance was assessed by determining modulus of rupture (MOR) and compression strength parallel to the grain (CSPG) in accordance with TS and ISO standards. The results showed that 9 % solution of ADF yielded the most effective fire-retardant performance, with substantial reductions in mass loss and combustion temperature. In contrast, CAN treatments showed minimal improvement in flammability behavior. Mechanical degradation was evident at higher concentrations across all formulations, though 6 % solution of ADF and 3 % solution of CAN retained mechanical performance closest to untreated wood. These findingssuggest that phosphate-rich fertilizers, especially ADF and TSP, may offer a viable and economical alternative to traditional fire retardants for wood, provided that impregnation concentration is carefully optimized to preserve mechanical integrity.
This study examines the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of four wood species: oak (Quercus petraea L), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and cedar (Cedrus libani). Samples were subjected to heat treatment at 175 degrees C and 205 degrees C, and their bending strength, modulus of elasticity, compression strength, dynamic bending (shock) strength, column strength, and hardness were compared with untreated controls. Results revealed that wood species, treatment temperature and their interaction significantly influenced all mechanical properties. Oak consistently showed the highest performance, while cedar exhibited the lowest values. Heat treatment caused notable reductions in mechanical properties, with losses ranging from 0.2 % to 52.2 % at 175 degrees C and increasing further at 205 degrees C. The reduction is attributed to the thermal degradation of wood components such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, leading to weakened cell walls and increased brittleness. Lower temperatures primarily produced a pre-treatment and drying effect, while higher temperatures intensified chemical degradation. Among the properties tested, bending strength, modulus of elasticity and hardness were most affected. The findings demonstrate that heat treatment significantly alters the mechanical performance of wood, and these changes must be considered in structural and engineering applications where strength and durability are critical factors. It has been determined that the mechanical property changes of needle-leaved and broad-leaved wood samples subjected to thermal treatment at both 175 degrees C and 205 degrees C in the same chamber are similar. It has been suggested that thermal treatment of both wood types could be carried out at a slightly higher chamber temperature (above 175 degrees C), thereby achieving a much closer thermal treatment effect for both wood types and potentially achieving significant energy savings.
This research investigates the flexural behavior of laminated spruce timber beams strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. A total of 28 specimens, fabricated in accordance with TS EN 408+A1 standards, comprising twelve CFRP reinforced, twelve GFRP reinforced, and four unreinforced control beams, were subjected to four-point bending tests. Three distinct reinforcement configurations rods, plates, and fabrics were systematically applied and comparatively evaluated. The results consistently demonstrated that CFRP reinforcements significantly outperformed GFRP counterparts in enhancing stiffness and flexural strength. Among the reinforcement types, double carbon rods and wide CFRP plates exhibited the most pronounced improvements, while spiral-wrapped CFRP fabrics showed superior performance relative to flat fabric applications. Additionally, the study highlights the critical influence of reinforcement configuration on the mechanical response of timber beams and underscores the impact of inherent wood defects on experimental outcomes. Complementary numerical simulations conducted using ANSYS software corroborated the experimental findings, thereby validating the effectiveness of the proposed reinforcement strategies for timber rehabilitation.
The proposed method comprises a small-scale production of fuelwood from felled and delimbed tree trunks in private households by slicing them into roundwood discs. The time consumption of this method was compared to that of the traditional method, which consists of cutting roundwood into log sections that are subsequently split into split billets. Production of fuelwood by the novel method was 2.2 times faster compared to the traditional method. The reason for the higher productivity of the novel method is the smaller number of operations. The application of this pioneering approach resulted in a 25 % lower fuelwood production cost, if compared to the commonly applied practice.
This study presents the results of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) predictions with the aim of optimizing the process of beech plywood and HDF laser cutting. A survey is given of the results of predictions of cutting kerf parameters made by Artificial Neural Networks to cover a wide spread of CO2 laser parameters, as well as the results of experimental cutting with maximum laser power (P) equal to 135 W and maximum feed rate (v) equal to 20 mm/s. Validity of the best neural network was checked versus overfitting of the best neural networks, confirmed according to r value of the model (minimum 0.971), MAPE (%) (maximum 6.21 %) and compared with the results of other authors. The article also presents the effect of energy density values E on values of cutting kerf parameters and their variance. The results show that the optimal value of laser power (P) and feed rate (v) for beech plywood are (200-300 W; 10-15 mm/s), while for more dense and more homogenous high-density fibreboard (HDF) they are (300-500 W; 5-10 mm/s). Optimal energy densities (E) are then 133 MJ/m2 for beech plywood and 433 MJ/m2 for HDF. Similar as for other wooden materials, it follows that more dense species of wood should be cut with higher values of energy densities. The results can be applied to reduce the material and energy demands by optimizing the quality of cut with minimum symmetrical kerf widths.
Nails are a simple and viable solution to connect sections of wooden structures. Although they are the oldest and most traditional connection elements, there is a considerable knowledge gap concerning the use of larger sized, threaded nails, in tropical hardwoods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different nail models and diameters on the withdrawal strength of Allantoma decandra wood and verify the efficiency of the existing prediction equations of nail withdrawal. Withdrawal tests were carried out using three nail models (smooth, helical, and annular), of two different diameters (2.8 mm and 3.5 mm). For each combination, ten A. decandra wood specimens were used. Four nails were inserted 32 mm into each wood specimen and then withdrawn using a universal testing machine with a 600 kN capacity, according to the procedures of ASTM D143 (2014). The nail model was the most relevant factor in this study, having a direct influence on withdrawal strength. Annular nails presented the highest strength values, followed by helical and smooth nails. The nail diameter had no significant effect on the maximum load result. The equations for withdrawal strength prediction demonstrated considerable accuracy regarding the experimentally obtained data, being important tools to anticipate the behavior of wooden structures.
