Restoring America’s Forests FPL 2013

7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013

1/20

Forest Products Laboratory

Te long-term health o our Nations orests depends on soundconservation practices, including utilization. Founded in 1910,the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, usesscience and technology to conserve and extend our Nationsorest resources. FPL is recognized around the world as asource o unbiased inormation about wood science and use.

Restoring Americas Forests

Trough the Wise Use o Wood

January 2013

www.pl.s.ed.us


2/20

Fast Facts and Key Points .........................................................................................................1

Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) ........................................................................................1

Wood Use ...............................................................................................................................1

Forest Products Industry ......................................................................................................1

Forest Management ..............................................................................................................1

Mission and Science Temes ....................................................................................................2

FPL Mission ...........................................................................................................................2

Science Temes ......................................................................................................................2

RWU Contributions to Science Temes ...................................................................................3

Durability and Wood Protection Research ...........................................................................3

Engineered Composites Sciences .......................................................................................... 3

Engineering Properties o Wood, Wood-Based Materials and Structures .........................4

Economics and Statistics Research .......................................................................................4

Fiber and Chemical Sciences Research .................................................................................5

Institute or Microbial and Biochemical echnology ..........................................................5

Perormance Enhanced Biopolymers ...................................................................................6

Budget ........................................................................................................................................6

Recent Accomplishments .........................................................................................................7

Build Green: Wood Can Last or Centuries ..........................................................................7

Residuals to Aviation Fuel ..................................................................................................... 7

Going to Bat or Major League Baseball ...............................................................................7

Flexible Electronics Using Cellulose Nanober Composite Substrates ............................. 7

Protecting Wooden Bridges ..................................................................................................8

Highly Unusual Yeast Makes Biouel Production Faster and Less Expensive .................... 8

Making Recyclable, Compostable Stamps that Last Forever ...........................................8

Making the Most o Beetle-Killed rees ............................................................................... 8

Projecting the Future o the U.S. Forest Products Industry ................................................ 9

Eect o Heat reatment on Black Locust ...........................................................................9

Eective Fire Retardants or WoodPlastic Composites.....................................................9

PublicPrivate Partnership Moves Research Results to Marketplace ................................9

Te Cellulose Nano-Materials Pilot Plant ..........................................................................10

FPL Capabilities in USFS R&D Priority Areas .......................................................................11

Biomass and Bioenergy .......................................................................................................11

Nanotechnology ..................................................................................................................13

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation ......................................................................15

echnology ranser ...............................................................................................................16

Patents Program ..................................................................................................................16

echnology Marketing Unit ................................................................................................16

Leadership and Research Work Units ....................................................................................17

Contents


3/20

Forest Products Laboratory (FPL)

LocatedinMadison,Wisconsin,since1910

Nationsonlyfederallyfundedwoodutilizationresearch laboratory

Currentlyemploys60scientists

Primarilyorpartlyresponsibleformanyoftodayswood-basedtechnologies,includingwoodpreserva-tives, glulam beams, oriented strandboard, and ber-based packaging, recycling and building deconstruc-tion,greenbuildingtechnologies,andnewusesfororest biomass rom restoration activities

Researchpartnershipslocatedinvirtuallyeverystatein the Nation

Currentresearchinitiatives

Underutilizedwoodybiomass

Nanotechnology

Biobased energy and biorening

Advanced composites

Advancedwoodstructuresandgreenbuildingtechnologies

Researchoutcomes

Reducewildreintensityandsuppressioncoststhrough economic use o orest biomass

Create economically viable uses or beetle-killedtrees

Mitigate the eects o climate change on oreststhrough carbon sequestration

Wood Use

Moresustainabletousethanalternativeconstructionmaterials

Requiresmuchlessenergytoprocessthanothermaterials

Energyrequirementtobuildwood-framedhouses15%to20%lessthanforsteel-orconcrete-framedhouses

Produceslessairpollution,solidwastes,andgreen-house gases than steel and concrete

Forest Products Industry

Employsabout1millionworkers

Accountsforapproximately6%ofthetotalU.S.manuacturing GDP

Ranksamongthetop10manufacturingsectoremployers in 48 states

Generatesover$200billionayearinsalesandabout$54billioninannualpayroll

In2011,recovered66.8%ofpaperconsumedandistheleadinggeneratoranduserofrenewableenergy

Forest Management

Roughaverageof10ft3ofwoodperharvestedtree

9.9billiontreesperyear(1.1milliontreesperhour)harvestedworldwideequivalentto1.7treesperperson per year

1.5billiontreesperyear(170,000treesperhour)harvestedintheUnitedStatesequivalentto6.3 trees per person per year, nearly 4 times theglobal rate

Harvestedtreesreplacedbyplantingandnaturalregeneration at a rate o more than 3 to 1 in theUnited States

VolumeofgrowingtreesincreasingintheUnitedStates despite rate o harvest

U.S.consumptionofwoodproductsin2005at28%o global total

U.S.consumptionofwoodproducts(roundwoodequivalent,excludingfuelwood)increasing,from16.3 to 18.8 billion t3between1990and2006

U.S.harvest(excludingfuelwood)decreasing,fromhigh o 15.7 billion t3 in 1989 to 14.9 billion t3 in2006, as consumption rom imports increasing

Nearly215,000treesperhourareconsumedintheUnited States, and the Nation is a net importer owoodandpaperproductsthatrequireanaverageof45,000 trees per hour

Research at the Forest Products Laboratory promotes healthy orests and orest-basedeconomies by developing efcient, sustainable uses or our wood resources.

Fast Facts and Key Points


4/20

2

Mission and Science TemesMission and Science Temes

Science Temes

NanotechnologyUsing nanotechnology tools andnanoscale materials to enhance the utility or perormance owood-andber-basedproducts,understandwoodproper-tiesattheirmostfundamentallevelandhowtheydier,anddeveloptotallynewproductsenabletheU.S.forestproductsindustry to compete successully in the increasingly competi-tive global marketplace.

Advanced compositesDeveloping engineeredbiocomposites can simultaneously meet the Nationsdiverse needs or high-perormance building and com-modityproductswhilemaximizingthesustainabilityo orest resources.

Underutilized woody biomassDeveloping uses orsmall-diametersoftwoods,underutilizedhardwoods,andurbanwoodybiomasswillimproveforesthealth,decrease re risks, boost local economies, and providerenewableproducts.

Biorefnery/bioenergyProcessing orest eedstocks,suchaswastefromwoodprocessingplants,treetopsandlimbs,andurbanwastewood,canproducehighervalue products, such as ethanol, specialty chemicals, andpharmaceuticals.

Advanced wood structuresCreating advancedtechnologies and alternative building methods cangreatlyenhancethevalueofwoodinresidential,nonresidential, and transportation structures.

FPL Missiono identiy and conduct innovative wood and ber utilization research that contributesto conservation and productivity o the orest resource, thereby sustaining orests, theeconomy, and quality o lie.


5/20

3

RWU Contributions to Science Temes

Durability and WoodProtection Research

Mission:Improving durability and wood protection throughimproved building design, advances in low-toxicity wood

preservatives, and improvements in re saety

Wood is anaesthetic andversatile structuralmaterial, and itrepresents one oour most valuablerenewablere-sources.However,vulnerability tomoisture, re, and

biodeteriorationare important limitations to the expected long servicelifeofwoodandcanresultinsignicanteconomicandresourceloss.Oneofthesurestwaystoextendtheavail-able timber supply and increase the resources to meetpresent and uture demands is by improving the durabil-ityofwoodinuse.

Research Focus Areas

Extendingtheservicelifeofresidentialandnon-residential buildings through proper design andoperation o the structures

Improvingtheresafetyofforestproductstoensurepersonal saety and orest health

Developingwoodtreatmentsthatimprovedurabilityofwoodproductswithoutadverselyaectingtheenvironment

Formulatingnew,sharplytargetedinhibitorstoprotectwoodproductsinserviceandpreventeconomicandresource losses that result rom biodeterioration

Engineered CompositesSciences

Mission: Understanding relationships between materials,process, and perormance to engineer biocomposites that

benet users while promoting sustainability o both virginand recycled orest resources

eengineeredwoodand other bio-basedcomposites developedthrough our researchprovide improvedvalue, service lie, andutility to consumers,whilealsopromotingsustainability and

recycling. Biocom-posite technologiescan be manuacturedintohighlyengineeredbuildingproductsusinglow-valuenatural resources, helping to oset the costs o thinningoperations needed to improve orest health. Compositesalso present an opportunity to promote jobs in ruralcommunities that depend on orest resources or theireconomic health.

Ourresearchwillfocusonenhancingtraditionalcompos-iteswhilesimultaneouslydevelopingthenextgeneration

ofbiocomposites,whichwillprovideconstructionandbuilding products that ar exceed current expectationswhileopeningnewmarketsandreducingeectsontheenvironment.


Understandingthefundamentalrelationshipsbetweenwood,naturalber,andalternativematerialstoopti-mizecompositeprocessingandperformance

Improvingtheperformance,durability,andvalueofexisting composites and dening the next generationo hybrid composites made rom natural bers andalternative materials

Developingtoolstoaddressresourcesustainability,enhancerecyclability,andminimizetheenvironmentalimpacts o composite processing

RWU Contributions to Science Temes


6/20

4

Engineering Properties o Wood,Wood-Based Materials and Structures

Mission:Improving the characterization o mechanical andphysical properties o wood and wood-based products that areimportant in engineering design and ostering their efcientuse in wood building systems

Te United States is the

worldslargestproducerandconsumerofwoodproducts. Annual harvestofroundwoodisapproxi-mately 350 million tons,and more than hal thatharvest is used in someformofsolidwoodproduct(lumber,wood-basedcom-posites,androundwoodproducts, such as posts,poles, and pilings).

Because constructionaccountsformostoftheconsumptionofsolidwoodproducts, trends in demand or these products are largelydetermined by trends in construction. It is projected thatoverthenext50yearstherewillbeatwo-thirdsincreaseinthenumberofnewhouseholds;therefore,ourresearchisfocusingonincreasingtheeciencyofwood-productsuse to support both the conservation and productivity oour Nations orests.


Conductingfundamentalresearchaimedatdevelopinginormation on the undamental anatomical, physical/mechanical,andprocessingcharacteristicsofwood

Providinginformationontheengineeringpropertiesandperformancecharacteristicsofwood-basedstructural products

Developinginformationontheperformanceanddesignofstructuralwoodsystems

Economics andStatistics Research

Mission: Providing economic inormation, analysis, andprojections and enhancing the efciency o FPLs researchthrough development, evaluation, and application o modernstatistical research

Economics and statistics

are critical componentso the success o researchat FPL. Economistsprovide inormationindicatinghowandwhymarkets and technologiesforwoodproductschangeover time, implicationsor natural resourcesmanagement, and select-ed broad environmentaland social impacts. Statis-

ticians apply modern statistical methods to enhance theintegrityandeciencyofutilizationresearch.

Tis unit supports other research projects by providingstatistical methods that help develop innovations thatexpandthecompetitiveuseofwoodtomeetneedsandconserveresources;evaluatingtheroleofmarkettrendsandinnovationsoncompetitivenessofU.S.rmswithforeignrms;andevaluatingtheimpactonforestsofpossible orest industry or orest management policiesandinitiativesthatprovidenewvalueforwoodorcon-servewood.


ApplyingstatisticalmethodstoenhancethequalityofFPLswoodutilizationandeconomicsresearch

Improvingstatisticalmodelingofwood,ber,andcom-posite properties, processing, and perormance

Monitoringandmodelingmarketequilibria,produc-tion trends, and technology changes o the U.S. orestproducts industry

Improvingunderstandingoftheeectofproduction

trendsandtechnologychangesinsolidwood,compos-ites,andend-useindustriesonproductandwoodneeds

Providingreadilyavailable,consistentinformationontimber,woodproducts,andpaperproductsindustriesor orestry and orest industry strategic planning

Providingknowledgeoftheeconomicviabilityofnewtechnologiesforconvertingwoodandberintoneworimprovedpaperandwoodproductsorbiofuels


7/20

5

Fiber and ChemicalSciences Research

Mission:Formulating efcient processes or convertingwood to chemicals and bers, developing economically viableuses or underutilized wood resources, and improving meth-ods or recovering and reusing orest products such as wastepaper and construction debris

Te need to reduce rerisk has led to a sig-nicant change in theutilizationneedsoftheForestService;avail-able material has shitedrom traditional timbertosmalltrees,woodyshrubs, and orest foordebris. Fortunately,there are national eortsto use such materials

as uels, chemicals, andnanoscale materials. Ourresearch is helping todevelopcommercialusesforthisnewwoodsupplyandForest Service need. Te unit also continues research onimproving pulping technologies, paper perormance, andthe perormance o recycled paper.


Advancingforestbioreneryforproductionoftransportation uels, such as ethanol, and valuable

chemicalsConductingresearchonnano-materialsderived

fromwood

Continuingadvancesintraditionalwoodpulpapplications

Improvingpaperandpaperboardrecycling

Understandingthefundamentalsofpaperstructureand applications or pulp-ber-based products

Institute or Microbial andBiochemical echnology

Mission: Developing biotechnology and nanotechnology orwood and ber conversion through research that contributesto efcient wood utilization and improved orest health

Research conducted inthe Institute or Micro-

bial and Biochemicalechnology (IMB) atFPL extends basic dis-coveries in microbiology,genetics, biochemistry,biophysics, nanotechnol-ogy, and bioprocessinginto technologies thatimprovewoodutilizationand orest managementpractices.

Ourresearchimprovesknowledgeofthechemicalprop-ertiesofwood,particularlyastheyrelatetomechanismsand processes or bioconversion and decay prevention.isenhancedknowledgewillincreaseproductyieldfromtraditionalwoodsuppliesandwillleadtonewandimprovedtechnologiestoconvertlow-value,underuti-lizedforestresourcesintorenewablefuels,chemicals,pulp, paper, and paperboard.


Developingtechnologiesfortheecientandeconomi-calbioconversionofunderutilizedwoodybiomass,such

as orest thinnings, unmerchantable timber, and mixedspecies,intoaarrayofwood-basedmaterials,fromber to chemicals

Identifyingandunderstandingthemechanismsofwooddecayfungitoincreasetheirecacyinbiocon-versiontechnologies,devisenewenvironmentallysoundwoodpreservatives,andacceleratedecomposi-tion o orest litter

Developingbasicinformationandoperationconditionsforecientandeectiveenzymaticandmicrobialpro-cessingofwoodandwoodber

Increasingunderstandingofthefunctionalgenomicsolignocellulose-degradingfungitooptimizetheiruseinbioprocessingandbioconversionofwood


8/20

6

Perormance EnhancedBiopolymers

Mission: Understanding the basic properties o wood andother materials used in conjunction with wood to improvetheir properties, enhance their service lie, and developnew uses

Research in

perormance-enhanced bio-polymers ocuseson three problemareas: advancedstructures, ad-vanced compos-ites, and nano-materials. Tereis considerable interdependence among these three areas(i.e.,improvementsinstructureswilldependonadvancesin composite materials), and improving the perormance

ofwoodandwood-basedstructureswillrequirebasicand applied research in each o these three areas. Ourresearchwillhelpensurethatnewlydevelopedmaterialsand structure components are robust, durable, cost eec-tive,compatiblewithothermaterials,andeasilydisposedo or recycled at the end o their useul service lives.


Understandingwhywood-basedmaterialsfailunderend-useconditions,developingnewandimprovedmethods or predicting service lie, and incorporatingnewdesigns,materials,andmethodstomakestruc-tures last longer

Understandingwoodsurfacechemistry,howmaterialsbondtowood,andtheprocessingofcomponentsdur-

ingmanufacturetoimprovewood-basedcomposites

Understandingwoodpropertiesatthemolecular,nano,andcellwalldimensionstosolveperformanceproblems

Budget

Allocations FY11 FY12 FY13*

Research Base $18,643,000 $18,451,000 $18,266,000

National Fire Plan $703,000 $597,000 $591,000

*Presidents Budget


9/20

7

Recent Accomplishments

Build Green: Wood Can Last or CenturiesSinceweareonthecuspofagreenrevolution,thereisnobettertimethannowtopromotewoodincon-struction as a means to mitigate climate change and tohighlighttheenvironmentalbenetsofchoosingwood

or residential and non-residential construction. FPLresearchers published a report to dispel the myth thatwoodconstructionwillnotlastaslongorbeasgreenas steel or concrete. Tey aim to educate the public onhomemaintenanceandempowerthemwithproperinormation to make an inormed choice or their nextconstruction project. With user-riendly inormation,home-ownerscanaddressmanyhomemaintenanceis-sues prior to costly repairs. Tis report illustrates manycommon moisture-related problems that can lead todecayifignoredandpointsoutthatwithproperatten-

tiontodetail,woodthatisprotectedfrommoisturecanlast indenitely.

Converting Northwestern Forest

Going to Bat or Major League BaseballBreakage o bats during play has become a saety concernor Major League Baseball (MLB), and FPL research-ers,alongwithuniversityandprivatesectorpartners,are on board to help improve the situation. Researchershave been givingtechnical adviceto MLB ocialson the mechani-cal properties ovarious species owoodcommonlyused to makebaseballbats,andacontractbetweenFPLandMLBwassigned to continue the partnership. Te committee com-piled relevant inormation or each broken bat, including

manufacturer,model,dimensions,gamesituationwhenitbroke,areainwhichthebatfragmentslanded,andvideofootageofeachincident.FPLbeganworkingwithaprivate certication and testing agency to help assess andcategorizethebatfailures,asarststeptowardreducingfuturecatastrophicincidents.Recommendationswerethen made on steps that could be taken to reduce thenumber o bats broken during play, and implementingthoserecommendationsresultedina50%reductioninthe number o catastrophic bat ailures.

Flexible Electronics Using Cellulose

Nanober Composite SubstratesFlexible electronics have manypotential applications includingmalleable displays, solar cells,smart cards, radio requencytags, medical implants, andwearablecomputers.Transpar-ent lms made rom cellulosenanobers,arenewablenano-material, have the potential to serve as a oundationor fexible electronics. Researchers rom FPL and the

University o WisconsinMadison have demonstratedthe rst example o using cellulose nanober compositesubstrates or fexible electronics. Although some chal-lengesremain,thecellulosenanobercompositeshowedgood chemical and thermal resistance necessary or elec-tronic abrication and the use o cellulose nanobers as asustainable component or high-speed fexible electronicsis extremely promising.

Residuals to Aviation FuelIn September 2011, the U.S. Department o AgricultureannouncedthatWashingtonStateUniversitywastoreceiveave-year,$40milliongranttohelpdevelopalternatives to petroleum-based uels and chemicals.CalledtheNorthwestAdvancedRenewablesAlliance(NARAforshort),FPLreceiveda$1.1millionsub-contracttopretreatwoodybiomassforconversiontoaviation uel. FPLs participation is to demonstrate theSPORL (Sulte Pretreatment to Overcome Recalcitranceo Lignocellulose) process or ecient sugar produc-

tion rom Douglas-r orest residue. In the rst yearo the project, FPL scientists developed a ractionationtechnique to reduce the bark content o orest residues.Te goal is to leave the bark in the orest or soil con-ditioning and nutrients. Improved bark removal alsoreduces the deadload in transportation and bioren-ery processing. Preliminary laboratory evaluation hasconrmed the high perormance o the SPORL processor pretreatment o the Douglas-r, providing ecientenzymeconversiontosugarsandhighbiofuelyield.


10/20

8

Making Recyclable, Compostable Stampsthat Last ForeverTe US Postal Service has sponsored cooperative researchprojects at FPL or more than 20 years. Initial researchdeveloped stamp adhesives that do not cause problemsduringpaperrecycling.Researchersarenowdevelop-ing improved perormance and accelerated aging teststoassurethatForeverStampsareindeedusefulifnot

foreveratleastclose enough toqualiy or thename. Also, in aneort to reducethe environmentalimpact o stampmaterials, research-ers are developingnewadhesivesthatare produced romrenewablematerialsanddegradeinlandlls.Beyond

developing adhesives that may be used on uture stampsand other commercial products, researchers are develop-ing experimental methods or determining the biodegra-dationrateofnewmaterials.

Making the Most o Beetle-Killed reesFPL researchers and their partners have developed auser-friendlyguidethatfocusesonhowbesttousewoodobtained rom treesthatwereinfectedbyinvasive species. Wood

Utilization Options orUrban rees Inectedby Invasive Species is acomprehensive manu-al that can be used byprofessionalswhenassessing use optionsor this material. Tepublication includes asummary o the tech-nical viability o usingthese materials or

value-added productsinavarietyofapplications,andwillbeusefultourbanoresters, municipalities, and local industries looking orwaystousebeetle-killedtrees.epublicationplacesamajor emphasis on trees killed by the emerald ash borer.

Protecting Wooden Bridges

Woodenbridges,whetherhistoriccoveredbridgesorcurrenthighwaytimberbridges,canbevulnerabletodamage rom biodegradation or re. Only about 800 omore than 10,000 covered bridges built in the UnitedStates are still standing, and many o those are sueringrom biodeterioration. Te remaining covered bridges arealso vulnerable to damage by intentional or accidentalres.Moderntimberbridges,whichrepresentanimpor-tant component o the transportation resource, can also

be vulnerable to re and decay. With unding provided bytheFederalHighwayAdministration,ForestServiceanduniversity researchers collaborated to evaluate methodsofprotectingwoodenbridgesfromreandbiodegrada-tion. Tis research and the resulting recommendationswereconsolidatedintoaguidethatprovidesdetailedinormation on actors that contribute to vulnerability,bestpracticesforminimizingvulnerability,selectingandapplying supplemental preservative treatments, use ore retardants, and re protection technology. Tis isthe rst document o its kind to provide such detailedinformationandinstructions.Itwillbeusedbyhistoric

preservationists and transportation maintenance per-sonnel in their eorts to extend the lie o both historicandmodernwoodenbridges.

Highly Unusual Yeast Makes BiouelProduction Faster and Less Expensive

A yeast isolated romthegutofwood-boringpassalid beetles can er-ment xylose to ethanolthree times aster than

it erments glucose,whereasnormalyeastsdo not erment xyloseatalloratamuchslow-er rate than glucose. It can also erment dierent sugarssimultaneouslywhenpresentedwithamixture,andcanerment xylose to ethanol under anaerobic conditionson minimal medium. All these eatures are conducive toaster, cheaper biouels production, and the ndings arebeing developed or possible commercial use.


11/20

9

Projecting the Future o the U.S. ForestProducts IndustryFPL researchers developed a detailed model that providesprojections o uture timber demands and timber pricesunder alternative scenarios regarding global economicgrowthandwoodenergy consump-tion. Te model

provides insightsonhowU.S.com-petition and tradein orest productscould be impactedby expanded globaluseofwoodforenergy in uturedecades.emodelprovidesarangeofnewandex-panded capabilities, including modeling regional U.S.orest product production and trade, stumpage marketsforhardwoodandsoftwoodtimber,regionaltimber

harvestandwoodresiduedispositioncalibratedtoFor-estServicetimberdata,andtherelationshipbetweenhousingconstructionandwoodproductdemands.Usingglobaleconomicscenarios,theFPLmodelshowedthatscenarioswithlargeexpansioninglobaluseofwoodforenergywouldlikelyresultinlargeincreasesinrealtim-ber stumpage prices in U.S. regions, but U.S. producerso orest products could nevertheless gain competitiveadvantagesifglobalroundwoodpricesincreasemoreinoreign countries than in the United States as a result oexpandedglobalwoodenergyconsumption.

Efect o Heat reatment on Black LocustBlacklocustisafastgrowingwoodspecieswithsuperiormechanical properties. It is oten used in making urni-ture but discoloration during drying oten limits its ap-plication.Heattreatmentvariableshavebeenshowntoaectcolorchangesinwood.Colorchangeislargelyduetochemicalstructureswithinthewood.Abetterunder-standing o heat treatment variables during the dryingofwoodallowsforenhancementofcolorinblacklocustwood.Heattreatmentcreatesthepotentialforblacklo-custwoodtoresembleexotichardwoodsthusincreasing

theuseofthisfastgrowingwoodspeciesandpotentiallydecreasing demand or exotic oreign species.

Efective Fire Retardants orWoodPlastic Composites (WPC)Wood composites madewithhighlyammableplastics are increasinglybeingusedinawiderangeo applications. Such ap-plications include decking

boards and other exteriorproducts around homes inthewildlandurbaninterface.Testshaveshownthatreretardant treatments can reduce the potential contribu-tionoftheWPCtoare.StudieshavealsoshownthatincreasingthewoodbercontentintheWPCsignicant-ly improved the re perormance over that o the plasticalone.

PublicPrivate Partnership MovesResearch Results to Marketplace

ResearchersatFPLhavedevelopedtechnologywherebycellulose bers can be ormed into structural and three-dimensional engineered berboard panels. Noble Envi-ronmental echnologies Inc. (NE), San Diego, Cali.,has signed anexclusive licenseagreementwiththe USDA to use

jointly patent-pending technol-ogy and structuresor oce urniture

and packaging ap-plications. Tesenaturally bondedboardscanusebersproducedfromavarietyofrenew-able sources including orest thinnings and recycledpaper bers. A number o global industries and mar-ketswillhaveaccesstoproductsandprocessesthataredesign-versatile,non-toxic,100%recycledcontent,100%bio-based. Such license agreements exempliy the valueo public-private partnerships in moving basic researchto valuable market-driven applications. Te collabora-tionbetweenFPLandNETisanexcellentexampleof

government and industry collaboration aiming to meetmarket demands. By combining the unique capabilitieso NE and FPL, research results have transerred intotangible products bringing improved, sustainable optionsto consumers.


12/20

10

Te Cellulose Nano-Materials Pilot PlantFPLopenedanewForestService-funded$1.7millionnanocellulosepilotplantin2012.epilotplantisnowproducing about 30 kg o cellulose nano-crystals (CNC),or5kgofcellulosenano-brils(CNF)perweek.esematerials are being supplied to three government agen-cies and six partner universities to accelerate the devel-opment o advanced cellulose-reinorced composites, and

printed, fexible electronic circuits and products.

Cellulose nano-crystals are rod-like particles o purecellulose, about 5 nm in diameter and 150200 nm long.Withthestrengthofsteelat1/6ththeweight,theyhaveapplications in high-perormance composites, replacingKevlar and carbon bers in these materials. Cellulosenano-brils are string-like particles, 20 nm in diameterand up to 2 microns long. Tey orm high-strength clearlms that can be used in high-perormance epoxy layupprocesses,barriercoatings,orbecauseoftheverylowco-ecientofthermalexpansionthebackingforprinted

circuits.enewpilotplantenablesForestServiceR&Dto continue to supply these materials to our partners,andmakethematerialsavailabletodozensofnewpart-ner companies. Product applications as diverse as fexiblesolar panels, printed electronic circuits, auto body parts,militarydrones,lightweightarmorandballisticglassareall under investigation by our partners.


13/20

11

FPL Capabilities in USFS R&D Priority Areas

Biomass and Bioenergy

Vision

Americas orest resources signicantly contribute toenergysecurityandindependencewhilereducinggreen-house gases.

Trough sustainable orest management and cost-eective harvesting and collection, Americas orests area strategic asset in meeting U.S. energy security, environ-mental quality, and economic development needs and e-fectivelycontributetodisplacing30%ofU.S.petroleumconsumption by 2030.

Sustainable orest management on public and privatelandsgeneratesexcesswoodymaterialthatcanbeused

tohelpmeettheNationsrenewableenergyneeds.Biomass management also supports eorts to provideeconomic opportunities, improve ecosystem health,decreasecatastrophicwildres,enhancewildlifehabi-tat,andprotectwatersheds.Sustainablewoodybiomassmanagement also mitigates, in part, the impacts o cli-mate change and provides an alternative uel and chemi-cal source.

Incoordinationwithotherfederalandstateagencies,academia, businesses, environmental interests, and non-governmentalorganizations,wewillcontinuetoimproveand deploy technologies and underlying science or bio-

fuelsproductionwhileapplyingandsupportingsustain-able orest management practices on the Nations orests.

Capabilities

FollowingaresomeattributesofForestServiceResearchand Development:

Anintegratedplatformofinnovativeeldandlabora-tory research that provides a unique opportunityor advancing biouels eedstock production andconversion technology

Acadreofwoodscientists,biologists,chemists,andengineerswhohavealreadydevelopedpartnerships

withuniversitiesandindustrialpartnersincooperativebiouels R&D ventures

Extensiveexperiencewithbusinesscaseanalysisforbiorenerieswithexpandingworkrelevanttotodaysquestions about net energy and net greenhouse gasemissionsforwood-basedbiofuelsandchemicals

Atrackrecordofprovidingleading-edgescienceandtechnologythathasformedthebasisfornewproductsandimprovedeciencyfromwoodymaterialsinamannerthatisconsistentwithsustainableforestmanagement

Afullspectrumofdataandmodelstohelpreducenancial risk

Deliverables

Followingaresomeadvancesinforestbiomasstoen-ergyscienceandtechnologythatwewillaccomplishanddeploywithanexpandedemphasisinbiofuelsintheResearch and Development mission area:

Sustainable orest bioenergy production systemsand new wood energy crops

Bestmanagementpracticesforforestrywithex-pandedbiomassremoval,whileprovidingimportantwildlifehabitat,waterquality,fuelsreduction,andnutrient management.

Newvarietiesofperennialwoodycropsthatareresistanttodisease,fastgrowing,nutrientandwaterecient,andoptimizedforbioenergy

Strategiestointegratewoodyplantswithagriculturalproduction o biouels, so that environmental peror-mance and synergistic outcomes areimproved


14/20

12

Experimentaldeploymentandevaluationofwoodybioenergyfeedstockthatwillprovideimprovedun-derstanding o plantation silvicultural practices, soilnutrient management, and economics

Competitivebiofuelsconversiontechnologiesthatreduce ossil uel use greenhouse gas emissions

Newchemicalandbiochemicaltechnologiesforextracting, modiying, and ermenting carbohydrates

andligninfromwoodybiomassfeedstocks

Newcost-eectivethermoconversion(pyrolysisandgasication)

Demonstration and evaluation o various orest eed-stockusedwithemergingtechnologysuchassmall-scale gasication, pilot biochemical conversion, andthermochemical conversion technologies

Feedstock selection, sorting, and preprocessingtechnologyoptimizedtomeetqualitystandardsforvarious biouels and biochemical conversion technol-ogy platorms

Improved microbes or extracting and convertingwoodybiomasstofermentablematerials

Ecientandenvironmentallyfriendlywoodybiomass harvesting systems

Improved harvesting and transportation systems ororest biomass, cost and equipment inormation, andoptions or eld processing to improve eciency andmitigate impacts

Life-cycleandsustainabilityanalysisforwoodbioenergy systems

Benefts

An expanded science program in orest-based biouelswillprovidebenetstoawiderangeofconstituents:

Increasingnationalenergysecurityandindependenceas a result o a technically, nancially, and ecologicallysound biouels systems replacing some ossil uelusage

Improvingforesthealthandreductionofreriskasexcess orest biomass is used or biouels production.

Reducinggreenhousegasemissionsandincreasednancial benets to non-industrial private orest land-ownersastheyreceivecreditforcarbonsequestration,emission osets, and biouels production

Economicdevelopmentof$120billionfromaneworest biomass to biouels industry

Reducingoreliminatingtheneedforfederalbiomasstobioenergy subsidies


15/20

13

Nanotechnology

Wood-basednanotechnologyoersarevolutionarywaytorestorethehealthofourNationsforests,whilecreat-ingnewjobsandstrengtheningAmericasforest-basedeconomy through industrial development and expansion.

Nanotechnology is the understanding and control omatteratdimensionsbetweenapproximately1and100nanometers,whereuniquematerialpropertiesenablenovel, high perormance applications. (For rame oreerence, a sheet o paper is about 100,000 nanometersthick.) Wood, or cellulose, at the nano-scale is a high-value material that enables products to be lighter andstronger, have less embodied energy, and come rom arenewableresource.

Nanotechnologywillallowforthecreationofnewmultifunctionalmaterialsanddeviceswithavastrangeo applications in many realms, including medicine,electronics, transportation, biomaterials, and energyproduction and use. It holds the potential or a dramatic

impactonthenationaleconomyestimatedtobeasmuchas$250billionworldwideby2020.

Asforforesthealth,todaywegrowabouttwiceasmanytreesasweuse.Ourforestsarebecomingovercrowdedwithhazardousfuelsthatcausecatastrophicres.edevastating impacts o these res are seen time andagain,withliveslost,homesdestroyed,andmillionsofacres blackened. Te cost o ghting these catastrophicwildresisenormous,sometimesasmuchas$1millionper hour.

Wood-based nanotechnology oers a solution to thiswide-spreadloss.Currently,thereareatleast300millionacres o orests in America needing some type o restor-ativeaction.Wood-basednanotechnologywillcreateacost-eectivewaytoenableenoughhazardousfuelstoberemovedsowildrescanremainsmallerandbecomea tool or improved orest health. It is estimated that astrong,establishedprograminwood-basednanotechnol-ogythatcreateshigh-valuemarketsfromlow-valuewood(hazardousfuels)couldhelprestore20millionforestedacres annually and reduce uture re suppression costsbyatleast15to20percentupto$300to$400million

annually.Potential Markets or Cellulosic Nanomaterials

Cellulosic nanomaterials are expected to nd applica-tionswithinmanyindustrialsectors,manyofwhicharenotcurrentlyemployingwood-basedmaterials.Beingalight-weight,high-performance,renewableandrecyclablematerialmakesnanocelluloseverycompatiblewiththegrowingtrendofgreeningproductsandmarketsinorderto meet the pressing need to supply sustainable materialsor the 21st Century.

Applications include:

Structuralcompositepanelsor construction

Flexibleelectronicdisplays

PrintedelectronicsAbrasionresistant/self-

repairing architectural nishes

Lightweightarmor

Ballisticglass

Medicaldevices

Aerospaceandautomotivepanelsandparts

Industrialtools

Consumerproducts

Superinsulatingandsoundproongmaterialsforbuildings, appliances, devices, construction, andindustrial processing

Sensorsforfoodpackaging

Sensorsforstructuralloadapplications

Actuatorsandswitches

Batteriesandenergystoragedevices

Photoactivestructuresforconstructionmaterialsandconsumer products

Smartlabelsandpackaging

Packagingbarriercoatings

Printingpapercoatings

Potentialcomponentbuildingblockinadditivemanuacture (3-D printing)

Within these industrial sectors several companieshave begun to explore uses o nanocellulose, including:Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo, IBM, Hyundai-Kia MotorCompany, Georgia Pacic, Ecolab, 3M, Ford Motor Com-pany,GeneralMotors,DuPont,HewlettPackard,Procter& Gamble and Kimberly Clark.


16/20

14

Collaboration

Recognizingtheimportanceofnanotechnologyandwood-derivedcellulosicnanomaterials,theU.S.forestproducts industry and the USDA Forest Service haveestablished a common vision and agenda or the com-mercializationofcellulosicnanomaterials.Publicprivatepartnerships that combine the unique abilities o in-dustry, government, and academic entities provide the

bestwaytosuccessfullycommercializeinnovativenewtechnologyplatforms,developnewproducts,andcre-atenewjobs.Successfulpartneringwillhelptoreinventthe U.S. orest products industry, improve orest health,make sustainable and ecient use o Americas abundantforestresources,revitalizeruraleconomies,andpositiontheUnitedStatesasaworldleaderinthecommercializa-tion o cellulosic nanomaterials.

eUnitedStatesandothernationswillseenumerousbenetsfromthecommercializationofwood-derivedcellulosic nanomaterials. Development and com-mercializationofnewlightweight,high-performancewood-derivedproductscanhelpreducefossilfuelcon-sumptionandgreenhousegasemissionswhileimprovingorest health and increasing the potential or rural manu-acturing opportunities, including the creation o manynewhigh-payingjobs.

FPLsnewfacilityaidsinthecommercializationofthesematerials by providing researchers and early adopters othetechnologywithworkingquantitiesofforest-basednanomaterials.

Te Cellulose Nano-Materials Pilot PlantTe Forest Products Laboratory recently opened a$1.7 million production acility or renewable, orest-based nanomaterials. Tis acility is the rst o itskind in the United States and one that positions the

laboratory as the countrys leading producer o thesematerials, also called nanocellulose.


17/20

15

Climate Change Adaptationand Mitigation

Climatechangereferstochangesinlong-termweatherpatterns and in the environment caused by increasinglevels o carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasesreleased into the atmosphere. Tese gases come romnatural events such as orest res and rom burningwood,peat,andfossilfuelsforvarioususes.

Forest Service researchers have studied the eects oclimate change and air pollutants on orests and grass-lands or over 30 years. Tis research already identiestrends and subsequent eects to ecosystems acrossthe United States. Te U.S. Forest Service is developinganationalframeworkforguidinganddirectinglandmanagement activities in light o expected changes.FPL research is contributing signicantly to this eort.

For instance, FPL has been researching undamentalgeneticsandphysiologyofwhite-rotfungifordecades.White-rotfungiaretheonlymicrobesknowntoe-

cientlybreakdownlignin,acomplexchemicalcompoundmostcommonlyderivedfromwoodandoneofthemostabundantmaterialsonEarth.Collectively,thewood-andlitter-degradingbrown-andwhite-rotfungiplayapivotalrole in the carbon cycle and signicantly infuence oresthealth.

ResearchersatFPLarecombiningwoodberwithther-moplastic resin to create various composites. CompositeresearchhasalonghistoryatFPL,andwoodcompositetechnologies have been used or decades to createbuilding and home urnishing products. Composites can

use undervalued materials and improve the economicso costly orest restoration because they can be maderom ber, particles, or fakes rom small trees, especiallythosefrominvasivespeciesandovergrownforestsatriskofwildre.Byusinglow-valueandproblematictimber(whichstoregreatamountsofcarbon)andclearingthismaterialfromourforests,newvigoroustimberwillgrow(sequestering additional carbon). Tis in turn mitigatesthe uncontrollable release o carbon into the environ-ment by orest res.

Because transportation accounts or about a third o

total U.S. emissions o carbon dioxide (an abundantgreenhouse gas), cleaner transportation uels can play animportant role in addressing climate change. FPL econo-mists are evaluating business cases or making biouelsusing selected biochemical and thermochemical tech-nologies. rees are one o the best potential sources obiological uel. Although a more challenging process thancreating biouel rom agricultural matter, convertingwoodresourcesintoliquidfuelsandchemicalfeedstockis becoming more cost competitive, and FPL is a leader

in innovative research on orest biomass to energyproduction.

Contributing to the U.S. report under the UN Frame-workConventiononClimateChange,FPLresearchershave collaboratively estimated carbon emission osetscausedbyadditionstocarbonstoredinwoodandpaperproducts.eEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywillusethese data in their annual greenhouse gas emissions and

sinks report.eConsortiumforResearchonRenewableIndustrialMaterials (CORRIM) is a not-or-prot consortium o15researchinstitutionsworkingwiththeeectsofproducingandusingrenewablematerials.FPLhascollab-oratedwithCORRIMtoconductlifecycleassessmentsofcarbon osets caused by orest treatments, re emis-sionreduction,woodproductstorage,andwoodenergyoset o ossil uels emissions. We have also collaboratedwithCORRIMtoincreasewooduseinstructures,whichwillosetcarbonemissionsofmaterialsthatemitmorecarbon in production and use.

FPLscientistshavecooperatedwiththeNationalCouncilor Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to estimatethe carbon emissions/carbon emissions oset ootprinto the U.S. orest products industry.

Using Unied Standard Format Markers (USFM) and theGlobal Forest Products Model (GFPM), FPL scientistshavebeenevaluatingtheeectofincreaseduseofwoodybiomass or energy on orest products markets. Ourscientists have been using these models to contribute tothe 2010 Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment. Inaddition to extending the treatment o climate eects,resourceanalyseswillcontinuetobelinkedbycommonassumptionsaboutpopulationgrowth,economicgrowth,andlandusechange.

FPLresearcherswereinstrumentalinestimatingcounty-level orest biomass supplies (including costs) or a revi-sion o the joint study conducted by the Departmentso Energy and Agriculture, the USDA/DOE Billion onBiomass Supply Study.

eForestServiceBiomassUtilizationGrantsprogramisintended to help improve orest restoration activities byusing and creating markets or small-diameter materialandlow-valuedtreesremovedfromforestrestorationactivities,suchasreducinghazardousfuels,handlinginsect and diseased conditions, or treating orestlandsimpactedbycatastrophicweatherevents.esefundsare targeted to help communities, entrepreneurs, andothers turn residues rom orest restoration activitiesinto marketable orest products and energy products.FPL researchers are continually evaluating the economiceectiveness o projects unded under the grantsprogram.


18/20

16

echnology ranser

Patents Program

ApartnershipwithFPLhelpsadvanceresearchbytap-ping into the expertise o our research personnel, pro-viding access to our extensive laboratory acilities and

equipment, and creating opportunities or patent andlicensing agreements.

Our researchers have a history o successul partner-ships,andtheywelcometheopportunitytocollaboratewithindustry,academia,tradeassociations,tribes,non-governmentorganizations,andfederal,state,andlocalgovernment agencies to convert research into usableinormation and technology.

Technologytransferagreementsweredevelopedtoimprovecooperationwithcommercialrmstoconvertresearch to usable inormation and technology. Tis

cooperation increases the benets to the public and com-mercial rms.

Varioustypesofagreements,suchasCooperativeRe-search and Development Agreements, Memorandums oUnderstanding,andResearchJointVentureAgreements,allowthegovernmentandindustrytoworktogetherindevelopingnewtechnologies.

Agreements vary based on the level o contribution romeach party and the expected benets, but the ultimatepurpose o all technology transer agreements is to bet-tercoordinateresearchactivitiesbetweenthepartiessothe results are eciently transerred to the public.

ApatentisaninstrumentbywhichtheUnitedStatesgrants an inventor the right to exclude others rom mak-ing, using, or selling an invention or a term o years. oqualifyforapatent,theinventionmustbenew,usefuland a non-obvious process or product.

PatentingenablesFPLtograntpatentlicenses,whichprovide an important avenue or technology transer. Teexclusive nature o patent licenses promotes the transero technologies to the private sector or commercial mar-kets,efollowingpatentsareavailableforlicensingatFPL:boltedwoodconnections,concentricngerjointedtimber,break-inresistantwoodpaneldoor,hardenedandreretardantwoodproducts,methodandapparatusor molding three-dimensional objects, and method orber loading a chemical compound.

echnology Marketing Unit

Similar to the extension services provided by manyuniversities, FPLs echnology Marketing Unit (MU)providesabroadscopeofexpertiseinwoodproducts

utilizationandmarketing,technologytransfer,andtechnical assistance. Te MU is part o the U.S. ForestServices State and Private Forestry, Cooperative ForestryBranch.

MUs mission is to promote the ecient, sustainableuseofwoodbytransferringtechnologiesdevelopedbyFPL, other Forest Service research stations, universi-ties,andotherfederallaboratories.eTMUworksincollaborationwithmanydierentpartners,particularlythe Forest Services Research and Development sta, toidentifyopportunitiesforworkingwithlocalgovern-

ments,privatelandowners,ruralcommunities,andorest industries. Tey support the National and inter-national mission o the Forest Service in orest productsutilizationbyensuringreadyadoptionofforest-basedmaterial technologies to many small, rural orest productbusinesses.

ebreadthofTMUsworkincludesforestproductscon-servation, processing, manuacturing eciency, market-ing, recycling, and bioenergy. Te technical assistancethey provide includes publications, technical assistancevisits,conferences,workshops,meetings,andjustsimplymeetingwithcustomersfacetofaceorviaphone.

TMUalsomanagesandawardsover$5millioneachyearingrantsdedicatedtohelpingimprovetheutilizationofwoodybiomassremovedfromforestrestorationprojectseWoodyBiomassUtilizationGrantProgramisintend-ed to help improve orest restoration activities by usingand creating markets or small-diameter material andlow-valuedtreesremovedfromforestrestorationactivi-ties,suchasreducinghazardousfuels,handlinginsectand diseased conditions, or treating orestlands impactedbycatastrophicweatherevents.esefundsaretargetedto help communities, entrepreneurs, and others turn

residues rom orest restoration activities into market-able orest products and/or energy products.


19/20

Leadership and Research Work Units

RWU 4714

EngineeringProperties o

Wood, Wood BasedMaterials

& Structures

Supervisory ResearchGeneral Engineer

Robert J. Ross

RWU 4851

Economics &Statistics Research

SupervisoryResearchForester

Kenneth E.Skog

RWU 4723

Durability & WoodProtectionResearch

SupervisoryResearch

Microbiologist

Carol A.Clausen

Wood Products Research

Assistant Director

Michael A. Ritter

AnalyticalChemistry &MicroscopyLaboratory

SupervisoryChemist

Vacant

FinancialResources

Management

AdministrativeOcer

Vacant

Administration

Assistant Director

Lon Yeary

RWU 4712

Institute orMicrobial &BiochemicalTechnology

SupervisoryResearch Plant

Pathologist

Barbara L. Illman

RWU 4706

EngineeredComposites

Sciences

SupervisoryResearchMaterials

Engineer

Zhiyong Cai

RWU 4709

Fiber &ChemicalSciencesResearch

SupervisoryResearchChemist

Alan W. Rudie

PaperTest

Laboratory

SupervisoryGeneral

Engineer

Nancy RossSutherland

EngineeringMechanics &

Remote SensingLaboratory

SupervisoryGeneral

Engineer

Steve Kalinosky

RWU 4707

PerormanceEnhanced

Biopolymers

SupervisoryResearchMaterialsEngineer

Gregory Schueneman

Research FacilitiesEngineering

SupervisoryGeneral

Engineer

Michael J.Kaspszak

National ForestService Library

SupervisoryLibrarian

JulieBlankenburg

Wood, Fiber, and Composites Research

Assistant Director

Teodore H. Wegner

Ofce o Communications

Director

Doug Clawson

Forest Products LaboratoryActing Director

Michael . RainsU.S. FOREST SERVICE

Forest Products LaboratoryOrganization Chart State & Private Forestry

Technology Marketing Unit (TMU)

Program Manager

Vacant

17


20/20

Te USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and

activities on the basis o race, color, national origin, age, disability,

andwhereapplicable,sex,maritalstatus,familialstatus,parentalstatus, religion, sexual orientation, genetic inormation, political

belies, reprisal, or because all or a part o an individuals income

is derived rom any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited

basesapplytoallprograms.)Personswithdisabilitieswhorequire

alternative means or communication o program inormation

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs

ARGE Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and DD). o le a

complaintofdiscrimination,writetoUSDA,Director,Oceof

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382

(DD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more inormation, contact

Forest Products Laboratory

One Giord Pinchot Drive

Madison, WI 53726-2398

608-231-9200

[email protected]

www.pl.s.ed.us

Documents

Restoring America’s Forests FPL 2013