Valorisation of Low-Quality Underutilized Hardwood Species for Innovative Biobased Engineered Wood Products

The production of veneer-based products already frequently uses birch, while lower-value wood species like aspen, black alder, and grey alder are underutilized. The reason is their lower quality rather than lack of resources. For example, wood species, wood quality, wood moisture content, density, anatomical structure etc. all affect the mechanical and bonding properties of wood polymer composites. Density is regarded as one of the most essential material attributes because it is strongly connected with wood's strength properties. Thus, the goal of this study is to improve the mechanical and physical characteristics of low-quality hardwood species by the densification process, thereby increasing their value. Sustainable chemical modifications and energy efficient low temperature methods will be investigated for densification process and properties will be evaluated. As a result, more low-quality underutilised wood species will be used to create innovative engineered wood products.