Utilization of Southern Forest Resources (RWU-4704)

Problem Area 1. Wood Quality

The emphasis of this research is on relating basic wood properties to location within tree or stand, environment, forest management and genetic factors that affect southern pine wood formation. Understanding the effect of wood formation factors (e.g. juvenile/mature wood, sapwood/heartwood, earlywood/latewood content, specific gravity, tracheid length, microfibril angle) on wood quality will provide knowledge to develop forest management practices targeted to development of specific wood properties and modeling to predict basic wood properties. Research efforts in this area will be conducted in cooperation with the Wood Quality Consortium, located at the University of Georgia, and will rely on the availability of trees with a known history, thus utilizing material from university and industry studies and other well-documented stands across the South.

Problem Area 1a. Intensive Silvicultural Practices

The unit will study the effect of vegetation control, initial planting density, thinning, fertilization and length of rotation on wood physical and mechanical properties.

Problem Area 1b. Environmental Factors

The unit will examine the relationship between wood quality and environmental factors such as precipitation, temperature, length of growing season and soils.

Problem Area 1c. Genetic Improvements

The unit, in conjunction with other units, will study the effect of genetically improved seedlings have on basic wood properties such as stiffness, strength and dimensional stability to enable utilization of wood from fast growing southern pine plantations for current and emerging forest products.

Problem Area 2. Characterization of Wood and Woody Biomass

The demand for raw materials from southern forests has been high since the 1980’s and will continue to increase. The perpetual state of strain on the southern forest resource has led to a change in the material that comprises the bulk of traditional forest product commodities. This problem area will focus on three elements pertinent to the effective utilization of our southern forest resource.

Problem Area 2a. Rapid Assessment of Material Properties of Wood and Wood Composites

The unit will develop predictive models that include property determination from increment cores, on-line monitoring of industrial processes, and characterization of woody biomass feedstocks for conversion to energy.

Problem Area 2b. Characterization of Bark

The unit will conduct basic studies to characterize bark anatomically as well as investigate the solvent-extractable compounds that are believed to impart to tree bark the resistance to attack by insects and pathogens. Applied research will also be conducted that targets the development of new products such as nutraceuticals, filtration media, and functional adhesive fillers.

Problem Area 2c. Timber Assessment and Allocation to Evaluate Standing and Felled Trees

Research will be conducted towards improving capabilities to monitor forest canopy, tree crowns, and tree stem soundness that will provide information on forest health and vigor. Analytical methods will also be developed that will permit non-invasive assessment of log quality thus allowing for more efficient processing decisions.

Problem Area 3. Improvement and Reuse of Solid Wood Products

In addition to improved processing, timber demands can be reduced by other major activities that extend the life of wood through reuse and recycling. Repairing and recycling wood pallets would reduce both hardwood and softwood timber needs. After intended use, pallets could be recovered, repaired, and reused, and at some point, recycled into other useful products to reduce timber harvesting needs. Other solid wood products, such as softwood house decking materials, can also be recovered and reused as decking or other solid wood products.

The unit will develop methods that allow pallet and house decking industries to extend the life of their products and reduce the volumes of materials presently ending up in landfills.

Problem Area 4. Utilization of Southern Resources in Bio-based Products

The efficacious use of our southern forest raw materials begins with their importance in commodity products and then expands into novel products. The fast-grown nature of our wood species often produces a less-than-desirable starting material from which to construct structural products and often requires processing alterations to meet particular codes or standards.

Problem 4a. Influence of raw material properties on composite performance

The unit will characterize physical and mechanical properties of wood components such as wood strands, fibers, and crystallites and their effect on structural composite properties. This sub-element will also encompass improved adhesive systems leading to better synergy between component and composite performance.

Problem 4b. Fiber modification and surface chemistry

The unit will refine and develop techniques that can alter cellulosic fibers, particularly their surfaces, in engineered composites. Modification processes include chemical and electrolytic treatments, plasma discharge, and ultrasound. Analytical methods to be employed will be inverse gas chromatography, atomic force microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Problem 4c. Environmentally-friendly products from bio-based feedstocks

The unit will develop fundamental information on lignocellulosic materials such that they can be more appropriately used as a chemical/bio-based feedstock. The fundamental data collected will be used to define processing techniques such as wood liquefaction technology and the production of synthesis gas and liquid transportation fuels as well as to develop a non-acid hydrolysis process of lignocellulose under high temperature.