Wood Composites

Part One: Materials for wood composites

1: Wood microstructure – A cellular composite

• Abstract
• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Cellular microstructure
• 1.3 Moisture and the composite wood cell wall
• 1.4 Orthotropic properties of wood

2: Processing of wood for wood composites

• Abstract
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Raw material characteristics
• 2.3 Raw material quality requirements
• 2.4 Peeling and slicing to produce veneers
• 2.5 Sawmilling to produce solid timber
• 2.6 Chipping, flaking and fibre production
• 2.7 Nanocellulose for advanced biocomposites

3: Adhesives for wood composites

• Abstract
• 3.1 Introduction – A brief history of wood composites resins
• 3.2 Common resins for current composite technologies
• 3.3 Other currently used resins
• 3.4 The future of resins for composites applications
• 3.5 Conclusions

Part Two: Wood composites and their applications

4: Plywood and other veneer-based products

• Abstract
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 History and market
• 4.3 The manufacturing process
• 4.4 Properties and performance
• 4.5 Applications and future trends
• 4.6 Resources

5: Fibreboards and their applications

• Abstract
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Hardboard
• 5.3 Medium density fibreboard

6: Chipboard, oriented strand board (OSB) and structural composite lumber

• Abstract
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 Chipboard
• 6.3 Oriented strand board
• 6.4 Structural composite lumber

7: Glue-laminated timber (Glulam)

• Abstract
• Acknowledgements
• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.2 Manufacturing glulam
• 7.3 Adhesives
• 7.4 Connections
• 7.5 Reinforced glulam
• 7.6 Recent research and technologies
• 7.7 Sources of further information and advice

8: Cross laminated timber

• Abstract
• 8.1 Introduction
• 8.2 CLT and the production process
• 8.3 Materials for CLT
• 8.4 Mechanical characteristics of CLT
• 8.5 Jointing CLT
• 8.6 Case studies
• 8.7 Future trends
• 8.8 Further information

9: Composite section I-beams

• Abstract
• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Engineering principles
• 9.3 Engineered products used in the manufacture of I-beams
• 9.4 I-beams in buildings
• 9.5 Examples of the use of I-beams

10: Wood polymer composites

• Abstract
• 10.1 Introduction
• 10.2 Fibres and fillers
• 10.3 Polymer matrices and processing
• 10.4 Wood fibre–polymer interfaces and dispersion
• 10.5 Additives for WPC compounding
• 10.6 Mechanical properties and other useful data
• 10.7 The global picture: Market trends by region
• 10.8 Labelling and testing for product quality and sustainability
• 10.9 Conclusions and future outlook

Part Three: Advances in wood composites

11: Preservation, protection and modification of wood composites

• Abstract
• 11.1 Introduction
• 11.2 Working with natural materials – Decay, moisture and weather
• 11.3 Decay and degradation of wood and wood-based composites
• 11.4 Water, degradation and weathering
• 11.5 Protecting wood-based panels and structural composites from weathering
• 11.6 Wood modification
• 11.7 Protecting wood
• 11.8 Treating wood-based composites
• 11.9 Combustion and fire retardancy
• 11.10 Conclusion

12: Environmental impacts of wood composites and legislative obligations

• Abstract
• 12.1 Introduction
• 12.2 The forest resource and extraction and transport of timber
• 12.3 Life cycle assessment (LCA) of wood composites
• 12.4 Comparing wood composites with other construction materials
• 12.5 The role of the built environment as a carbon store
• 12.6 Wood waste and recycling of wood composites
• 12.7 VOC emissions and wood composites
• 12.8 Legislation
• 12.9 Future trends
• 12.10 Conclusions
• 12.11 Further information

13: Nanocomposite coatings and plasma treatments for wood-based products

• Abstract
• 13.1 Introduction
• 13.2 Coating technologies
• 13.3 Plasma treatments
• 13.4 Wood protection by plasma-assisted thin layer deposition
• 13.5 Conclusion

14: Biomimetic composite materials inspired by wood

• Abstract
• 14.1 Introduction
• 14.2 Hierarchy, structure and the principles of biomimetic design
• 14.3 Biomimetic functionalisation of natural fibres
• 14.4 Genetic engineering
• 14.5 Biomimetic systems of motion based on plants
• 14.6 Biomimetic timber architecture
• 14.7 Conclusions

15: Carbonised and mineralised wood composites

• Abstract
• 15.1 Introduction to wood charcoal
• 15.2 Introduction to mineralised wood
• 15.3 Carbon–carbon woodceramics
• 15.4 Silicon carbide woodceramics
• 15.5 Titanium nitride and titanium carbide woodceramics
• 15.6 Carbon/aluminium composites
• 15.7 Conclusions

16: Hybrid wood composites – integration of wood with other engineering materials

• Abstract
• 16.1 Hybrid wood composites in transport
• 16.2 Wind turbine and propeller blades
• 16.3 Rotor blades
• 16.4 Hybrid wood composites in sport
• 16.5 Hybrid wood composite beams
• 16.6 Hybrid wood composites in construction
• 16.7 Conclusions

Recent progress in enhancing and refining the performance and properties of wood composites by chemical and thermal modification and the application of smart multi-functional coatings have made them a particular area of interest for researchers. Wood Composites comprehensively reviews the whole field of wood composites, with particular focus on their materials, applications and engineering and scientific advances, including solutions inspired biomimetrically by the structure of wood and wood composites.

Part One covers the materials used for wood composites and examines wood microstructure, and wood processing and adhesives for wood composites. Part Two explores the many applications of wood composites, for example plywood, fibreboard, chipboard, glulam, cross-laminated timber, I-beams and wood-polymer composites. The final part investigates advances in wood composites and looks at the preservation and modification of wood composites, environmental impacts and legislative obligations, nano-coatings and plasma treatment, biomimetic composite materials, the integration of wood composites with other materials and carbonized and mineralized wood composites.

• Comprehensively reviews the entire field of wood composites in a single volume
• Examines recent progress in enhancing and refining the performance and properties of wood composites by chemical and thermal modification and the application of smart multi-functional coatings
• Explores the range of wood composites, including both new and traditional products

Wood scientists, timber engineers, architects, civil engineers, and postgraduates and academic researchers with an interest in wood composites and their applications