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Wood Focus Issue 3 2010

In news we report on a non-metallic connection system for timber structures in corrosive environments, an electroless nickel-plating process for wood veneers being developed in China, and a novel way of curing adhesives for wood composite panel manufacturing.

Our features cover best practice for stacking timber and ways of approaching Eurocode 5.

News

Misunderstood wood in food packaging

Wooden packaging containers
A novel microbiological testing method could promote wood’s use as a food packaging material, according to a group of French researchers.
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010

Radiation as a cure for adhesives?

Radiation could be used to cure adhesives in the manufacture of wood composite panels in a way that could reduce energy consumption and offer an alternative to formaldehyde-emitting adhesives.
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010

Streamlining conductive film deposition

A simple electroless process for preparing nickel-phosphorus (Ni- P) film on wood veneers for electrical conductivity is being explored by Chinese researchers.
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010

Forests are not weathering the storm

European forests are more susceptible to storm damage than ever before, according to research led by the British Forestry Commission. The Commission is exploring risk models that predict the probability, as well as the implications of thinning the forest and managing it in different ways.
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010

Making a non-corrosive connection system

A non-metallic, non-glue, connection system for timber structures could find use in corrosive environments such as swimming pools and grit salt storage facilities, as well as the renovation or restoration of historic frames. It  uses glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowels and densified veneer wood (DVW) flitch plates.
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010

Features

Eurocodes in the supply chain

Malvern College, Worcestershire, UK. Image courtesy of B&K Structures
Dr Keerthi Ranasinghe, Senior Structural Engineer at TRADA Technology Ltd, in High Wycombe, UK, urges timber and wood products suppliers to consider CE marking or third-party certification to take advantage of Eurocode 5’s effect on designing with timber. 
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010

Safer timber stacking and storage

Reasonably well built stacks of banded sawn timber packs. Separating sticks could, however, be more equally spaced and vertically aligned
The UK Health and Safety Executive has issued a warning on the dangers that can arise from the unsafe stacking of timber. Cliff Seymour, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Health and Safety, reviews guidance on safe practice.
Wood Focus Magazine, 01 Dec 2010