Project information
Doctoral student
Sebastian Svensson Meulmann
Supervisor
Åsa Rydell Blom
Assistant supervisors
Tinh Sjökvist, Södra Innovation, Michael Dorn, Linnaeus University
Financier
Stiftelsen Seydlitz MP bolagen, Södras forskningsstiftelse, Centrum för byggande och boende i trä
Timetable
2022 - 2026
Subject
Forestry and wood technology (Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Technology)
Research groups
Forest Products
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment
Green Sustainable Development
More about the project
Swedish forestry has traditionally focused mainly on coniferous trees such as spruce and pine, but with a changing climate, Swedish forests are expected to have an increasing proportion of deciduous trees. This brings advantages in terms of resilience and biodiversity in the forests but will also challenge traditional processing methods. To meet the future needs for bio-based materials, it is therefore important to investigate to what extent these materials can be used and what these opportunities look like. An important step is to extend the product’s lifespan by using these products responsibly and avoiding large volumes going directly to short-lived products. By increasing the lifespan, the carbon in the wood is also stored for a longer time, and the available wood can instead be used for other purposes.
The most important aspect regarding the durability of wood placed outdoors is its water absorption. Constant high moisture levels can cause rot, while large variations can lead to cracks that later allow more moisture to penetrate. This is why most treatments aim to reduce the wood’s water absorption, thereby reducing the risk of rot. Due to the dominance of coniferous trees, these treatments are often designed to suit softwood, and there is a lack of knowledge on how these treatments should be performed on hardwood.
Within the framework of this project, several properties in combination with different treatments will be evaluated. By combining exposure of the wood outdoors in natural conditions and in a controlled laboratory environment, the results can then be validated to create a better picture of which modifications and surface treatment systems are best suited for hardwood.
The suitability is then based on the wood’s performance in terms of, among other things: water absorption, mould growth, cracking, and color change.
The project is part of the research in the Forest Products research group and the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment Green Sustainable Development.
