Research Projects

Abstract

The project proposal aims to increase the use of less utilized hardwoods in sustainable construction and to promote the use of environmentally friendly materials and technologies. Due to climate change, which leads to higher average air temperatures and extreme weather conditions, the composition of forests is changing and tending towards a greater proportion of deciduous trees (hardwood). As a result, more hardwood will have to be used for the production of wood-based composites in the near future. The lack of knowledge and standardization regarding the production process, quality control and structural design, restricts wider use of hardwood in construction, which is why basic research on the bonding of these wood species is crucial. Most adhesive systems for structural bonding are designed for softwoods, which can lead to unsuitable joints when bonding hardwoods or combinations of hardwood and softwood species (hybrid system). Significant problems can occur in delamination tests due to unfavourable shrinkage and swelling caused by different dimensional changes due to moisture changes. A major focus is on improving adhesion through innovative surface pre-treatment of wood lamellas using plasma and laser technologies. The project will evaluate and optimize a process for pre-treatment of wood lamellas using non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma and laser techniques. It will determine and explain the influence of surface pre-treatment on adhesion when bonding different combinations of wood species with structural adhesives. The final goal is to develop and optimize a hybrid glued laminated timber (glulam) whose bonding and bending properties are comparable to those of a conventional glulam.

Researchers

• Milan Šernek (16382)
• Luka Albreht (57765)
• Neja Bizjak (58149)
• Sebastian Dahle (51819)
• Samo Grbec (32936)
• Miha Humar (19106)
• Mirko Kariž (29227)
• Manja Kitek Kuzman (20385)
• Daša Krapež Tomec (52214)
• Tomaž Kušar (51656)
• Boštjan Lesar (28503)
• Sergej Medved (15410)
• Maks Merela (24676)
• Matjaž Pavlič (20386)
• Aleš Straže (18149)
• Jure Žigon (37804) 

The phases of the project and their realization

WP1: Plasma pre-treatment

Task 1.1. Selection, preparation and basic characterisation of wood species

Task 1.2. Pre-treatment of wood lamellas with FE-DBD plazma

Task 1.3. Evaluation and optimization of pre-treatment of wood lamellas with FE-DBD plazma

WP2: Laser pre-treatment

Task 2.1. Selection, preparation and basic characterisation of wood species

Task 2.2. Pre-treatment of wood lamellas with N-IR and UV lasers

Task 2.3. Evaluation and optimization of pre-treatment of wood lamellas with N-IR and UV lasers

WP3: Wood bonding and adhesion

Task 3.1 Determination of the influence of surface-pre-treatment on adhesion

Task 3.2 Shear strength tests

Task 3.3 Adhesive penetration measurements

WP4: Bonding of hybrid GLULAM

Task 4.1 Physical and mechanical verification of the characteristic values of wood species

Task 4.2 Bonding of several combinations of GLULAM and testing od adhesive bonds

Task 4.3 Bending test of several combinations of GLULAM

Task 4.4 Development and optimization of hybrid GLULAM

WP5: Coordination and dissemination

Task 5.1 Overall project management

Task 5.2 Dissemination