Forest residue for value-added wood products by innovative thermal-hygro-mechanical modification

The proposal aims to develop a new technology that modifies forest residue such as logs and lumber into
value-added wood products. British Columbia (BC) has an abundance of residual fiber from clear-cut
logging, which includes small diameter logs, branches, and underutilized wood species such as aspen logs.
The goal is to support BC’s wood industry’s transformation from primary lumber production to secondary
wood processing of value-added products, especially for indigenous forests. The proposed technology uses
a combination of environmental friendly chemical treatment and radio frequency (RF) heating to modify lowvalue
lumber and timber from both sawmill operations and forest residue. The objectives of the research
are to investigate the mechanism of chemical treatment and RF heating, develop the modification process
technology for lumber and timber upgrading, and explore the proposed technology for log-to-timber
converting. The technology has the potential to improve the utilization of residual fiber and facilitate
sustainable and efficient resource utilization practices, reducing carbon footprints in the construction
industry.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jianhui Zhou

Student:

Partner:

Deadwood Innovations Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Northern British Columbia

Program: