Wood modification with renewable solutions of native origin

Limitations in the supply of wood with sufAcient quality as well as competition of neighbouring markets are more and more restricting the adequate allocation and placement of wood at the disposal. The renewable production and use of wood from lesser used wood species, harvest residues or fast growing plantations is a suitable eco-friendly method to meet the increasing demand for raw materials. Low or insufAcient quality of these assortments can be eliminated by property improvement through wood modiAcation techniques. Wood modiAcation processes, not only using non-biocide impregnation solutions, but also renewable and regenerative sources, coul enhance the technical properties of the material as well as the environmentally sound conditions of the application. It has been demonstrated that impregnation liquids of native or native-based origin, manufactured from process water of organic residues, show positive effects as they are incorporated into the wood and the cell wall. Moisture behavior such as equilibrium moisture content, antishrink efAciency or swelling/ shrinkage as well as durability and further important properties can be improved. Wood utilization under wet-room conditions seems to be a promising market for this technique, whereas the exterior use under precipitation conditions is limited due to the insufAcient or still not optimized Axation of the components to the cell wall, resulting in leaching and loss of higher amounts of impregnating agents as well as a setback of property control.