Our group works with fundamental and practical questions related to environmental-friendly composites made with sustainable wood and other plant fibres, secondary raw materials, and industrial fibrous side streams.
These composites can be considered as alternatives over existing products used today in furniture and building.
A focus area is the study of renewable bio-based, bio-degradable and formaldehyde-free adhesives. Their use allows us to achieve new product designs associated with enhanced recycling options of final products, for increased performance and improved environmental profile of composites.
Recent initiatives to increase resource use efficiency involve the utilisation of different waste materials (e.g. wood, agricultural biomass, paper, rubber) in combination with different inexpensive inorganic binders for the manufacture of new structural and insulation composites.
Methods
We have fully equipped laboratories and use methods such as:
fiber and particle size analyses,
studies of interactions between wood tissues and adhesives at the macro and micro scale,
physico‑chemical property characterization,
thermal analyses,
automated bond evaluation,
manufacturing of composites using hot and cold pressing,
non‑destructive testing,
assessment of property changes under varying temperature and humidity conditions, and
mechanical strength testing, including finite element analysis and recycling processes.
Microscopy and fibre analysis: Light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy (TEM/SEM) including advanced EM preparative facilities for biological samples. Static (FiberShape) and automated wet and dry (QicPic, L&W FiberTester) fibre and particulate analysis. Campus access to confocal microscopes, atomic force microscopy, and SEM-EDX
Chemistry and Rheology: HAAKE MARS 40&60 rheometers equipped with controlled test chamber, connected with FTIR, and ready for Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA). Chemical and thermal analyses with ICP-OES, HPLC, Mettler-Toldeo TGA and DSC, FTIR, and UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. Brookfield viscocimeter with geltimer coupling assembly, soxhlet extraction, pH meter, dispersers, willey mill. Campus access to GC-MS, NMR, XRD, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry
Composites: F3 Electra hammer mill, chip classifier, IMAL ultrasonic laboratory sifter, Joos Laboratory Press LAP 200, Lödige FM 130 D glue blender, Hobart 30 L mixer for inorganic binders, X-ray density profile analyser (Grecon DAX 6000), Automated Bonding Evaluation System (ABES), NDT acoustic system BING, Krüss DSA30S Drop Shape Analyser, MTS Criterion® Series 40 Electromechanical Universal Test System 1-100 kN, IMAL water bath for swelling tests, Pol-Eco ovens, Memmert climate chamber, creep stage with up to 20 positions in a climate chamber
We collaborate with academia and industry, both in Sweden and abroad. The services are provided through Treeseach.
Call: Formas Annual open call 2022, Title: “Contribution of wood products to climate change mitigation”. Coordinator, January 2023 – December 2025, 3.0 M SEK.
Call: Vinnova: Enabling technologies and processes for bio-based products, Title: “2023-00842 - TallBoard: Tall oil application in industrial fiberboards”. Co-applicant, June 2023 – November 2025, 5 M SEK
Call: Vinnova SIO Graphene: Collaboration in commercial applications with graphene - autumn 2021, Title: “Graphene in sustainable glues for renewable materials”. Co-applicant, April 2022 – September 2024, 8.65 M SEK