Research into the possibility of sustainable processing and innovative application of thermally modified wood

BASIC INFORMATION:

Acronym: SUSPRO-INNO-TMWOOD

Leader: izv. prof. dr. sc. Kristijan Radmanović

Duration: 48 months (September 2025 – September 2029)

Funding: Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds of the Republic of Croatia

Role (FŠDT): partner

Amount: 109.059,09 EUR

SUMMARY:

The main objective of the project is to optimize the parameters of thermal treatment of wood and mechanical treatment of thermally modified wood with the aim of improving the thermal and acoustic properties of wood for applications in construction, acoustic panels, musical instruments and other wood products where good thermal and acoustic properties of wood are desirable in addition to biological durability, and to contribute to the sustainable use of wood resources through the production of innovative pellets with improved resistance from wood residues generated during the mechanical treatment of thermally modified wood and the recovery of thermally modified wood products. Additional objectives of the project are:

- to establish an open research platform with published research results

- to establish formal cooperation with foreign research groups

- to present the research results to the scientific community and economic entities related to the research topic

The project deals with the optimization of the parameters of thermal modification (TM) of wood and mechanical treatment of thermally modified wood (TMD) with the aim of improving its thermal and acoustic properties. The project aims to enable more efficient and innovative use of wood in construction, the production of acoustic panels and musical instruments, and to contribute to the sustainable use of wood resources through the development of innovative pellets from TMD residues. TMD wood increases its biological durability, but also changes its mechanical and physical properties, which affects the workability, size and shape of the crushed wood particles and the dustiness of the working space. The research is divided into four work packages: (1) determining the workability of TMD by milling and grinding using different TMD parameters on three types of wood; (2) analyzing the morphology of TMD particles and determining the mass concentration of particles in the working environment formed during TMD processing; (3) examining the impact of TMD on the mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties of wood; (4) developing pellets with improved properties from TMD. The project objectives include the development of an open research platform, the achievement of international cooperation and the transfer of results to the scientific and professional community. Expected results include optimized TMD processing parameters, improved TMD and pellet properties, and strengthening sustainable wood processing through residue utilization. The project has significant scientific, economic and environmental contributions – from reducing CO₂ emissions to developing innovative high-value TMD products.

PROJECT TEAM:

Project manager:

izv. prof. dr. sc. Kristijan Radmanović

Project team members:

Prof. dr. sc. Ružica Beljo Lučić,

Prof. dr. sc. Anka Ozana Čavlović

Izv. prof. dr. sc. Igor Đukić

Izv. prof. dr. sc. Branimir Šafran

Izv. prof. dr. sc. Azra Tafro

Izv. prof. dr. sc. Maja Moro

Doc. dr. sc. Matija Jug

Dr. sc. Ante Jurčević

Juraj Jovanović, mag. ing. techn. lign.

Marin Dujmović, Master of Science