Our Expertise and Areas of Research
FPL is using cutting-edge techniques to find solutions to some of our nation’s
most important challenges, such as finding alternative sources of energy
and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, providing clean air and safe
drinking water to our citizens, and combating global warming. Our current
research program revolves around five key initiatives:
- Utilization of small-diameter timber: Developing uses
for this material improves forest health, decreases fire risks, boosts
local economies, and provides renewable products.
- Nanotechnology: Using nanotechnology tools and nanoscale
materials to enhance the utility or performance of wood- and fiber-based
products, to understand wood properties at their most fundamental level
and how they differ, and to develop totally new products, thereby enabling
the U.S. forest products industry to compete successfully in the increasingly
competitive global marketplace.
- Biorefinery/ bioenergy: Processing forest feedstocks,
such as waste from wood processing plants, tree tops and limbs, and urban
waste wood, can produce higher value products, such as ethanol, specialty
chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
- Advanced wood structures: Creating advanced technologies
and alternative building methods can greatly enhance the value of wood
in housing, nonresidential construction and timber bridges.
- Advanced composites: Developing engineered biocomposites
could simultaneously meet the diverse needs of users for high-performance
building and commodity products and maximize the sustainability of forest
resources.
Small-Diameter Timber
Finding valuable uses for small-diameter wood benefits the environment
and the economy.
- Thinning this material to restore natural conditions improves forest
health and reduces the risk of wildfires and insect and disease infestations.
- Creating products such as furniture and flooring offsets the high cost
of thinning.
- Finding valuable uses for small-diameter material, including water filters
and composite signs, helps rural businesses grow and boosts local economies.
Recycling
Improving recycling processes keeps waste out of landfills and extends
our forest resource.
- Advanced technologies are being developed to more easily remove inks
and adhesives from recycled paper.
- Researchers partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to develop an adhesive
that wouldn’t gum up recycling equipment. The result, found on ‘lickless’ stamps,
allows 20 million more tons of waste paper to be recycled in the U.S.
annually.
- Recycling building materials through deconstruction can reduce the estimated
1 billion board feet of lumber that is landfilled each year.
Energy and Biomass
The small trees crowding our forests and other types of biomass are an
abundant source of energy.
- Biomass systems provide reliable and efficient sources of heat and power
using both agricultural and forest residues.
- Small-scale biomass systems that produce 15kW of electricity by gasifying
wood chips are being demonstrated nation wide.
- Researchers are looking for ways to produce ethanol from agricultural
wastes, such as corn hulls and cobs, and other woody materials.
Fire
Fire is a major threat to both our Nation’s forests and our homes.
FPL studies the science of fire in both environments.
- Researchers play a role in the National Fire Plan by developing products
from undervalued forest thinnings.
- Researchers study engineered wood products to ensure their fire safety
and improve their performance in a fire.
Economics
FPL’s economics group provides information for the Forest Service
and industry to plan for the future, such as:
- How wood is used in the economy
- How and why wood use changes over time
- Changes in the kinds and amounts of wood and fiber needs
- Natural resource management needs and environmental impacts
Wood Preservation
Preservation extends the life of wood products and conserves our wood resource.
- New preservatives are being developed to treat small-diameter timber
and widen the possibilities of its use.
- Researchers are looking for ways to reduce the impact of preservatives
on the environment, such as using reduced levels of chemicals and developing
new treatment processes that reduce leaching.
Pulp and Paper
Researchers work to continuously improve the papermaking process.
- Researchers developed a bleaching process that uses polyoxometalates
(POMs) instead of chlorine and reduces the impact of papermaking on our
water supply.
- Using POMs gives paper mills the ability to bleach small diameter and
mixed species pulp.
- Researchers developed biopulping, which uses decay fungi to break down
wood chips prior to mechanical pulping, reducing energy consumption by
30%.
Center for Wood Anatomy Research
Researchers study the fundamental structure of wood and maintain the world’s
largest wood collection, containing over 100,000 specimens.
- Researchers are developing new methods for wood identification and are
working to expand knowledge of lesser-known native and foreign commercial
woods.
- Researchers study topics such as the relationship between wood anatomy
and wood properties as well as the interplay between wood anatomy and
tree growth
Mechanical Testing of Wood
The Engineering Mechanics Lab tests and evaluates wood and wood products
to determine their mechanical and material properties.
- Provides information for committees who develop engineering standards
for wood use.
- Collects data on small diameter and deconstructed lumber to facilitate
standards development for these abundant sources of wood.
- Provides support for FPL’s research units
Wood Adhesives
Improved adhesives are needed to create many of today’s wood products,
which are often made from smaller wood fragments that are bonded together.
- Researchers study the chemical and structural composition of adhesives
and wood, and the interaction between them, to create more durable bonds.
- Increasing our understanding of how moisture weakens wood bonds will
lead to better solutions to this common problem.
- Researchers aim to make adhesives more environmentally sound by using
more biomass in the formulations and by addressing concerns over the use
and disposal of wood adhesives.
Engineered Bio-Composites
Wood-based composites promote sustainable forestry by using renewable,
recyclable resources to create high-performance, high-value products.
- Research improves existing building materials, such as plywood, oriented
strandboard and medium-density fiberboard, and develops the next generation
of composites.
- Research develops new form-molded and extruded building products for
composite lumber, siding and roofing materials, and lightweight, recyclable
automotive parts.
- Researchers engineer composites to better meet user needs and address
national issues such as recyclability, reduction of forest fuels, and
safety and accessibility of playgrounds.
Moisture and Durability in Buildings
Better building design and operation can extend the service life of wood
products in buildings.
- Studies to improve building designs can lead to better moisture control,
longer service life of wood products, less mold, and better health for
the building occupants.
- Researchers participate in national committees to help improve standards
for building construction, design, and building products.
Wood Processing
There are many steps that must be taken in order to transform a tree into
useable products.
- Researchers developed a technique that uses ultrasound, lasers, vibration
and wireless technology to test trees and wood products for decay or other
defects.
- Researchers developed a series of schedules for efficiently drying wood
to minimize warps, splits and other problems.
- FPL researchers and State & Private Forestry sawmill specialists
developed the Best Opening Face sawing simulation program, which calculates
how to get the greatest volume of lumber from softwood logs.
Wood Surface Chemistry
Researchers work to define and control the surface properties of wood to
improve:
- Resistance of wood to the effects of moisture and sunlight
- Sorption capacity for removing contaminants from water
- Adhesion strength in wood and wood-plastic composites
- Durability and service life of wood products used in housing
Nanotechnology
Researchers are studying the unique qualities of nanomaterials to develop
new products with performance capabilities never before possible.
- Nanotechnology could be used to create new wood, composite or paper
products, or wood could become a source of nanomaterials for use in other
industries.
- Future possibilities include wood and paper products with built-in nanosensors
that measure forces, moisture, temperature or even report attacks by wood-decaying
fungi or termites
- Benefits of nanotechnology extend far beyond forest products into areas
such as sustainable energy production, storage and use.
Biorefinery
Researchers are working to expand knowledge about forest biorefinery concepts
and to make the process economically feasible and highly productive.
- Forest biomass can be used to create many valuable products, including
electricity, liquid fuels and useful chemicals.
- Creating renewable products will reduce U.S. dependency on foreign fossil
fuels, create sustainability through the use of green fuels, reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, and improve efficient use of waste materials.
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