Commercialization potential of viscoelastic thermal compressed wood: insights from the US forest products industry

• Published in: Forest products journal Vol. 61; no. 7; pp. 500 - 509
• Main Authors: Macias, Natalie, Knowles, Chris, Kamke, Fred, Kutnar, Andreja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison Forest Products Society 01.10.2011
• Subjects: attitudes and opinions; Case studies; Commercialization; compressed wood; Environmental policy; forest plantations; Forest products; Forest products industry; forests; interviews; laminated veneer lumber; Mechanical properties; Moisture content; Plantations; plywood; Population; Product development; Studies; Supply and demand; transportation; Viscoelastic materials; Viscoelasticity; Wood; Wood composites; wood fibers; Wood products; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0015-7473; 2376-9637
• DOI: 10.13073/0015-7473-61.7.500

The increasing demand for forest products and restricted use of natural forests has resulted in a shortage of high-strength wood fiber. The area covered by plantation forests is steadily rising, but the fiber produced by these forests is often unsuitable for high-strength applications. One attempt to combat this problem is the viscoelastic thermal compression (VTC) process, which can dramatically increase the strength and stiffness of any wood species. To advance VTC wood from the concept evaluation stage to the development stage, concept testing interviews were conducted with individuals in the forest products industry. Opinions, ideas, and insights were gathered from interviewees concerning potential applications for VTC wood, as well as advantages and barriers to commercialization. As a whole, interviewees thought the most viable uses for VTC wood were laminated veneer lumber, plywood, concrete forms, transportation components, and flooring. The most frequently mentioned advantages to commercialization included increased mechanical properties and the utilization of a low-value wood species; barriers to commercialization were cost and the forest products industry's resistance to change. Overall, interviewees thought VTC wood would be successful as long as it was not markedly more expensive than similar products.