Development of a Process and Feasibility Study for the Production of Thick Veneer

According to an environmental survey by the Federal Statistical Office for the year 2003, the construction industry in Germany is responsible for over 60% of the waste and residual material generation. In order to avoid further burdening future generations, sustainable building materials must demonstrate their recyclability and sustainability. Wood as a material has the potential to meet these requirements in a unique way.
The significance of wood as a building material and its contribution to sustainable development beyond the construction sector will largely depend on how well the challenges ahead can be addressed economically and qualitatively using "wood products." Veneer production is one of the most resource-efficient processing techniques in the wood industry, but due to the material's brittleness, it is limited to thin cross-sections.
Wood is a porous material with a porosity of well over 50%, which can be compressed foam-like under the influence of heat (approx. 130°C) and moisture without damaging its cellular structure. By subsequent cooling, the wood enters a plasticized state, which can be reversed by applying heat again in steam-saturated air. This process gives the wood an elasticity of nearly 100%, allowing it to be molded.
This approach opens up the possibility of producing thick veneer sheets with a thickness of more than 2 cm, as the material is simultaneously compressed during the peeling process. Peeling a tree trunk leads to a raw material saving of more than 50% compared to conventional sawn timber. These partially compressed sheets not only expand the existing wood assortment but also offer numerous new wood processing possibilities, particularly due to their unique properties, such as forming lightweight wood tubes.

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