Wood modification technologies:
Prospects for Australian production
July 2015
Elizabeth Dunningham & Rosie Sargent
Thermal Modification KilnImage © Scion
Akkerwinde Bridge, made of AccoyaImage © Courtesy of Achterbosch Architectuur and Onix
Thermally Modified ScreenImage © Locus Research
Outline
• Introduction – wood modification and requirements
• Status of wood modification technologies and their
differences
• Application of these technologies into Australia
Market opportunities
Advantages, disadvantages and unknowns
Options for Australia
• Conclusions & Recommendations
Thermally Modified Eucalyptus NitensImage © Scion
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Wood modification
• Definition:
Chemical, biological or physical
processes that modify wood to obtain
desired property improvements for
service life
Modified wood should be non-toxic
Mode of action should be non-biocidal
Research samples of
Modified WoodImage © Scion
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Wood modification review: scope
• Wood modification technologies only
• Technical literature and websites
• Application to Australia
Locally grown plantation species only
Prospects for local production facilities
Fit to Built environment and
Fit to regulations
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Eucalyptus Nitens PlantationImage © Scion
Wood modification: requirements
• High quality sawn timber
• Ease of processing (degrade)
• Unknowns:
Supply of suitable wood resource
Suitability of some hardwoods for modification
Accoya Boardwalk, Auckland City Council Image © Accoya.com
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Drivers for wood modification
• Lifting local species into higher value applications
• Low toxicity
• Improved sustainability
• Increasing consumer demands & desires
Accoya DoorImage © Paul Flint and Co.
Kebony Boathouse, NorwayImage © kebony.com
TM ScreenImage © Locus Research
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Global wood modification research
• Three main modification approaches
Thermal
Chemical reaction with wood polymers
Impregnation/polymerisation
• Other impregnation
Accoya JoineryImage © Paul Flint and Co.
Accoya JoineryImage © Accoya.com
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Treatment location
in the wood matrix
Lumens
Cell wall pores
Cell wall
Wood polymers
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Modification differences: Thermal modification
Green
KD
• Process: heat wood > 170oC without oxygen
• Species: wide range of softwoods and some
hardwoods
• Properties gained: stability, colour, options for durability
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Modification differences: Chemical reactions
Green
KD
• Process: impregnate anhydride into very dry wood
and react
• Species: pine
• Properties gained: very good stability & durability,
termite resistance
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Modification differences: Impregnation/polymerisation
Green
KD
• Process: impregnate monomers into dry wood and
polymerise
• Species: range of mostly softwoods
• Properties gained: moderate stability & possible durability,
mechanical
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Commercial modification operations:
Thermal modification
• Most prevalent current modification
• ThermoWood (uses steam)
• Plato (uses liquid water)
• OHT (uses oil)
Thermally Modified Radiata PineImage © Scion
TM, Finnish Nature Centre, FinlandImage © Outdoors Finland Etelä
Commercial modification operations:
Chemical reactions
• Acetylation most common
• Accoya® , TricoyaTM
• Previously Perennial Wood
• Other historic
Accoya Radiata PineImage © Scion
Accoya, Moses Bridge, The NetherlandsImage © M. Appelman.
Commercial modification operations:
Impregnation/polymerisation modification
• Many examples but most small scale
• Kebony (furfurylation)
Kebony Radiata PineImage © Scion
Kebony Boardwalk, Bethany Beach, USA Image © Elliott Plack
Market segments
• Traditional: Decking, cladding, windows, outdoor
furniture
• Specialist: Bridges, canal linings, specialist joinery,
high hazard (tropics), boats, kitchen utensils
Accoya, Akkerwinde Bridge, The NetherlandsImage © Jelle
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia:
• Business:
Target product segments that are performance-
driven
Supply corporate clients in high profile projects
• Environmental:
Reduced toxicity
Increase product life
Reduced maintenance cycles
Reduced environmental impact & carbon footprint
Unknowns: direct comparison using Life Cycle
Assessments between modified & treated wood
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia:
• Industry structures & cultural issues:
Need to work collectively to reduce risk of
introducing new technologies
Requires a “solutions approach”
• Regulatory issues:
Requires test data appropriate for the Australian
conditions
Difference between states
Unknowns: TM fit to H3 hazard class
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia:
• Barriers to adoption:
Lack of key data for some technologies
Fire performance required (bushfire-prone areas)
Need for a high quality feedstock
Suitability of other Australian species
Differences between states
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia: Technologies ranked
Three criteria:
• fit to built environment applications particularly
residential and light commercial construction
• greatest benefits (business and environmental)
• highest potential for success in Australia
Accoya Park Bench, BournemouthImage © Accoya.com
Image © Kebony.com
TM house, DenmarkImage © seier + seier
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia: Technologies ranked
Modification Fit to built
environ’t
Benefits Potential for
Australia
Overall
ranking
ThermoWood®
with radiata pineM M M M
Accoya® M M-H L-M L-M
Kebony® M L L L
TMT with other
speciesM? M? M? M?
TMT with
additiveM? unknown M? M?
HartHolzTM (DMDHEU) M L-M M? L-M?Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia: R&D potential
• Feasibility studies
Supply of suitable timber resource
Location of suitable manufacturing operations
Price point & competition
Compliance to BCA & state regulations
• Longer term investigations
Lab-scale investigation (proof of concept, fill data
gaps)
Scale up trials
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Application to Australia: R&D potential
• Technology comparisons
A technology assessment model such as
WoodScape
Benchmarking to Australian standards
Fill gaps in environmental impact data
Machining demonstration of Modified WoodImage © Scion
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
ConclusionsWood modification technologies give options to increase
value of wood products
• Immediate opportunity: Thermally modified pine
Unknown: ability to perform to H3 hazard class
• Longer term opportunities:
Thermally modified non-pine species
Thermal modification with additives
• Watching briefs:
Accoya
HartHolz
Kebony
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Recommendations
1. Feasibility study for thermally modified radiata pine
2. Investigation of thermally modifying other species
3. Consider implementing via vertically integrated
value chain
4. Investigation of thermal modification with additive
5. Technology comparisons
6. Environmental impact data comparisons
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015
Picture citationsSlide 1: Left: ThermoWood Kiln , Scion, Rotorua © Scion
Centre: Bridge near Sneek The Netherlands made from Accoya © Courtesy of Achterbosch Architectuur and Onix
Right: Screen made from ThermoWood. © Locus Research
Slide 2: Themally modified E. nitens by R. Sargent © Scion
Slide 3: Modified wood research samples, Scion
Slide 4: E. nitens plantation, Rotoaira Forest © Scion
Slide 5: Accoya Boardwalk, Auckland. From Accoya.com © Accsys Technologies
Slide 6: Left: Accoya Stained Oak Door by Paul Flint & Company is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0
Centre: Naust på Aure, from Kebony.com © Pasi Aalto
Right: Screen made from ThermoWood. © Locus Research
Slide 7: Left: Glazed Frame by Paul Flint & Company is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0
Right: Custom windows by Accoya © Accsys Technologies
Slide 8: Softwood structure by J.J Harrington and M. Harrington. © University of Canterbury
Slide 9: E.A Dunningham & R Sargent, Scion
Slide 10: E.A Dunningham & R Sargent, Scion
Slide 11: E.A Dunningham & R Sargent, Scion
Slide 12: Left: Luontokeskus Haltia by Outdoors Finland Etalä is licenced under CC BY 2.0
Right: Scanned Themowood board, by R. Sargent, © Scion
Slide 13: Left: Moses Bridge by M. Appelman is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0
Right: Scanned Accoya board, by R. Sargent © Scion
Slide 14: Left: Photo by Elliott Plack is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0
Right: Scanned Kebony board by R. Sargent © Scion
Slide 15: Untitled by Jelle is licenced under CC BY 2.0
Slide 18: Free clipart from Google Images
Slide 19: Left: Accoya Sessio seats for Bournemouth’s West Cliff. © Accsys Technologies
Centre: bbb low-cost housing, prototype, tegnestuen vandkunsten 2004-2008 by seier + seier is licenced under CC BY 2.0
Right: W&R tableware © Kebony
Slide 20: Table 1 from report
Slide 22: Machined and finished modified wood. © Scion
Presented via webinar to FWPA members by E Dunningham on 8 July 2015