Transforming the potential of wood using modern technologies
Wood is one of the oldest building materials that has been constantly renewed throughout history.
As contemporary architecture becomes increasingly concerned with sustainability and environmental responsibility, the popularity of these materials has also increased.
While trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, their wood stores carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere.
Wood-derived materials are therefore associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions in the case of trees harvested from sustainably managed forests.
But in order to exploit the full potential of this material,
a wide range of techniques and modifications have developed with the aim of adapting and customizing the properties of wood to the requirements of modern design and construction.
From thermal modification to engineered wood or multi-use particle boards,
These methods not only enhance wood’s suitability to the rigors of contemporary architecture;
It also expands the usability of this sustainable material to an unprecedented scale.
Engineered wood laminating and gluing
Engineered wood is a broad category that describes building materials created by bonding layers of wood particles together using adhesives and advanced manufacturing processes.
These processes are used to improve the strength,
stability and dimensional consistency of the material while also enabling the creation of large structural elements from trees of relatively small cross-sections.
Some of the most common types of laminated panels,
Also referred to as “mass lumber”, they are glued laminated (Glulam),
cross-laminated (CLT) and laminated laminated (LVL).
The structural qualities of these materials depend on the manufacturing process.
Glulam is made by bonding individual sections of wood with industrial adhesives.
Since the wood fibers are oriented in the same direction,
this type of wood is best used for large-scale structural elements such as beams or columns.
CLT, on the other hand, consists of planks of sawn and glued wood,
with each layer perpendicular to the previous one.
This creates structural rigidity in both directions, similar to plywood but with thicker components.
CLT panels can serve as structural walls, floors, furniture, ceilings and ceilings,
with their thickness and dimensions adapted during the prefabrication phase.
LVL is made by fusing thin layers of wood veneer with the grains running in the same direction.
With applications similar to glulam, but has higher performance and allows for smaller cross sections compared to softwood glulam.
Pressure and heat treatments
Thermal modification is a wood treatment process that involves exposure to high temperatures in kilns,
Reducing the moisture content to approximately 0%.
This removes the bonding of water and free water within the wood cells,
This reduces distortions and stabilizes the wood. Steam is then applied,
which increases the moisture content to 4-7%, making it workable.
Thermally modified wood (TMT) is more stable and resistant to moisture than untreated wood.
This reduces the risk of cracking and warping while maintaining its natural appearance.
Pressure treatments are used to force wood preservatives or fire retardants into the internal structure of the wood.
This can extend the life of the wood by protecting it from wood-eating insects and fungal decay.
In addition, fire-resistant treatments also increase the versatility of wood by reducing smoke and flames produced during a fire.
Applications expand from interior framing to wood exposed to outdoor conditions,
Including utility poles, railroad ties, deck boards and fence pickets.
Aggregation of wood particles
Wood particle boards are one of the most versatile and widely used building materials,
often used as wall coverings, furniture, ceilings and even flooring. to get it,
Wood fibres, particles or splinters are bonded with adhesives and resins,
resulting in strong boards with different properties depending on the type of aggregate and adhesive.
Stranded Board (OSB) is known for its strength and cost-effectiveness.
While OSB panels are commonly used as cladding as one of the many invisible layers of a building,
Many designers have also discovered their potential in interior design.
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) has smooth surfaces, becoming the material of choice for carpentry.
While medium density particleboard (MDP) uses wood debris such as sawdust mixed with resin, providing a less expensive solution.
Plywood sheets are processed similarly to CLT, but on a different scale.
They are created by overlapping wood sheets that are glued vertically and compressed with heat.
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