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Projects / Programmes source: ARIS

Performance of wood and lignocelulosic composites in outdoor applications

Research activity

Code Science Field Subfield
4.01.02  Biotechnical sciences  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Wood technology 

Code Science Field
T460  Technological sciences  Wood, pulp and paper technology 

Code Science Field
2.05  Engineering and Technology  Materials engineering 
Keywords
wood, service life, advanced wood composites, hydrophobisation, modification, performance, nanocellulose, mechanical properties, fungal decay
Evaluation (rules)
source: COBISS
Researchers (34)
no. Code Name and surname Research area Role Period No. of publicationsNo. of publications
1.  29875  Marko Bajc  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  280 
2.  30867  PhD Franci Bajd  Physics  Researcher  2016 - 2017  89 
3.  22313  PhD Janez Bernard  Civil engineering  Researcher  2016 - 2019  148 
4.  29164  PhD Mitja Ferlan  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  222 
5.  05732  PhD Željko Gorišek  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  452 
6.  28855  Melita Hrenko    Technical associate  2016 - 2019 
7.  19106  PhD Miha Humar  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Head  2016 - 2019  1,328 
8.  29227  PhD Mirko Kariž  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  170 
9.  20385  PhD Manja Kitek Kuzman  Architecture and Design  Researcher  2016 - 2019  504 
10.  07127  PhD Hojka Kraigher  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  1,332 
11.  29636  Luka Krže    Technical associate  2016 - 2019  206 
12.  37425  PhD Davor Kržišnik  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Junior researcher  2016 - 2019  187 
13.  28503  PhD Boštjan Lesar  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  487 
14.  37938  PhD Tijana Martinović  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Technical associate  2016 - 2019  36 
15.  15410  PhD Sergej Medved  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  378 
16.  14574  PhD Mojca Urška Mikac  Physics  Researcher  2016 - 2019  150 
17.  32104  PhD Peter Nadrah  Chemistry  Researcher  2016 - 2019  78 
18.  13400  PhD Leon Oblak  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  457 
19.  11223  PhD Primož Oven  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  561 
20.  00395  PhD Marko Petrič  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  881 
21.  05248  PhD Franc Pohleven  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Retired researcher  2016 - 2019  1,195 
22.  12041  PhD Ida Poljanšek  Chemical engineering  Researcher  2016 - 2019  346 
23.  07925  Ana Sepe    Technical associate  2016 - 2019  131 
24.  12056  PhD Igor Serša  Physics  Researcher  2016 - 2019  471 
25.  12521  PhD Andrijana Sever Škapin  Civil engineering  Researcher  2016 - 2019  428 
26.  16382  PhD Milan Šernek  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  573 
27.  24777  Barbara Štupar    Technical associate  2016 - 2019  29 
28.  33176  PhD Nejc Thaler  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2018  129 
29.  30758  PhD Viljem Vek  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2019  145 
30.  50188  Boštjan Zupanc    Technical associate  2017 - 2019 
31.  20457  Andreja Žagar    Technical associate  2016 - 2019  62 
32.  37804  PhD Jure Žigon  Biotechnical sciences  Technical associate  2016 - 2019  198 
33.  36375  PhD Mojca Žlahtič Zupanc  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Researcher  2016 - 2017  45 
34.  21137  Daniel Žlindra  Forestry, wood and paper technology  Technical associate  2016 - 2019  170 
Organisations (4)
no. Code Research organisation City Registration number No. of publicationsNo. of publications
1.  0106  Jožef Stefan Institute  Ljubljana  5051606000  90,742 
2.  0404  Slovenian Forestry Institute  Ljubljana  5051673000  12,023 
3.  0481  University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty  Ljubljana  1626914  66,844 
4.  1502  Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute  Ljubljana  5866324000  10,455 
Abstract
Wood and wood based composites are one of the key materials in the modern construction and building industry. They enables design of attractive and very sustainable buildings. One of the drawback of wood is, that there are not many data available regarding the service life in various European climate.  This limits more extensive use of wood as this data are required by investors in order to calculate maintenance and total costs.  However, if the data regarding the service life of wood are rare, the data regarding the service life of the construction wood based composites are even more limited. The purpose of this project is to start with the assessment of the performance and service life of wood based composites used in outdoor above ground applications. As we are aware that moisture related problems are one of the most important factors that influences the performance of wood and wood based composites, composites will be upgraded with novel generation of hydrophobic treatments: TiO2 nanoparticles, Silanes, waxes, Sol gel tretamnt, nanocellulose based films, commercial surface coating. Various composites will be exposed to natural and artificial ageing. After predetermined exposure periods, samples will be isolated and their mechanical properties, fungal colonization, properties of the glue line will be determined as well. Additionally, there will be continuous monitoring of the composites during expose performed as well. We will monitor: moisture content, mechanical properties (nondestructive techniques), creep, dimensional stability… In order to ensure reliability of the predictive methods, samples from already running field tests will be included to research as well. The prime aim of this project can be summarized as: understanding and tuning of wood based composites performance in outdoor applications is the main goal of the proposa; and to Improve the durability of wood-based materials, specifically addressing longterm performance as affected by biodegradation, moisture resistance, dimensional stability, creep …
Significance for science
- The realization of the project will expand the understanding of chemical and morphological of wood and advanced wood composites, which is still not adequately understood. - Interactions of titania nano particles, delivered to substrates by the sol-gel method with alkoxide precursors, with lignocelullosic materials, have already been the subject of investigations and are at least partially elucidated. However, it is different  in the case of titania, deposited by the low temperature hydrothermal process in an acid environment. Elucidation of these interactions will make a scientific contribution to the firlds of wood science and technology and of nanomaterials. New scientific findings will have also applicative consequences, because they open possibilities for new and efficcient ways of protection of wood and lignocellulosic composites against influence of weather, where the appearance of treated wood can remain quite close to original appearance of wood. - The engineering of wood coatings with nanocellulose presents significant advantages for the relevant sector as a whole, at national and international level. In the proposed project wood constituents such as nano/microfibrillated cellulose are used innovatively as additives in coatings applications. -Studying the interactions between advanced wood composites and chemicals used will broaden knowledge of the chemistry of preservative solutions and wood, as well as their interactions. - The development and/or optimisation of the experimental and instrumental methods, will bring about new findings in the field of instrumental methodology and will significantly enhance the ability to use several analytical (FTIR, NMR, XRF, DGGE) and experimental (moisture performance measurements) methods in science of lignocellulosic materials. - Investigation of the sorption properties of advanced wood composites treated with various hydrophobic treatments will improve understanding of the sorption properties and water uptake that in certain cases are essential for understanding performance issues. - Studies of fungal colonization of advanced wood composites will improve understanding of fungal decay and fungal ecology. - Field test results will be compared to laboratory ones, enabling us to improve the reliability of laboratory procedures. - All findings (relevant) on the changes of wood during ageing and fungal colonization of wood will be published in international publications. - Research in the framework of the proposed project will strengthen scientific international and national collaboration in the field of wood pests and wood preservation. The project group will be included in several COST actions - We believe that at least one student will do his PhD thesis and several students will prepare their diploma thesis within the framework of this project.
Significance for the country
- Successful completion of the project will enable our industrial partners better and more reliable marketing of their products. However, the obtained data will be important in the process of the improvement and/or development of new products high performance wood composite for applications in higher use classes. - A successful Slovenian company produces commodities from an acylic-mineral composite. During production, large amounts of sanding dust of this composite are obtained. The dust is a burden for economic as well as for environmental reasons. Development of processes leading to utilisation of acrylic-mineral composite dust for surface protection of ligno-celullosic composites and wood against UV light, wetting, and to improvement of fire retardant properties may tackle the mentioned problem. - Development of the moisture based indicators will enable prediction of service life and maintenance intervals for selected advance wood based composites, which will enable use of these materials for purposes for which they have not previously been used, due to the lack of knowledge. Developed methodology will be applied on the other materials as well. - Predictive service life data will be useful for other companies involved in wooden construction. This will increase the consumption of domestic wood, which does not require much energy for machining, and will decrease dependency on imported material and energy. - As the LCA will be the most important decision factor for the selection of the material in the frame of green public procurement, obtained methodology will provide us reliable data for calculation of the carbon footprint (service life and maintenance) and completion with other materials. - The participating companies will gain plenty of information regarding their products advance wood composites and products for their hydrophobistaion, and for developing new formulations, which will improve their competitiveness, since we will gain real data from real scenarios. They will therefore be able to offer better and more accurate warranty conditions, which will be based on the most accurate testing. This will improve their position on the market. They will thus be able to increase employment and introduce new technologies and products on the market. The collected data will increase the added value of the products in the market, since the participating companies will be able to sell them for applications for which they were not previously sold due to a lack of proper and reliable information. - Not only the beneficiary, but other companies in the wood-related sector and also building-construction industry, will have the opportunity to benefit from the results of this project, since they will be made publicly available. It is therefore expected that the discoveries and developments made within the framework of the project will have a similarly stimulating effect on other companies, especially within the wood processing sector.
Most important scientific results Interim report, final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results Interim report, final report
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