Advanced Eco-friendly Wood-Based Composites

Dear Colleagues,

Traditional wood-based composites are produced with synthetic, formaldehyde-based wood adhesives, commonly made from petroleum-derived constituents, such as urea, phenol, melamine, etc. Along with their numerous advantages, these adhesives are characterized by certain problems, connected with the emission of hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including free formaldehyde emission from the finished wood-based composites, which is related to a number of serious environmental problems and adverse human-health effects, such as skin and eye irritation, respiratory problems, and cancer. The transition to circular, low-carbon bioeconomy, the growing environmental concerns and the strict legislation related to the emission of harmful VOCs, e.g. free formaldehyde, from wood-based composites, have posed new requirements related to the development of sustainable, eco-friendly wood-based composites, optimization of the available lignocellulosic resources, and use of alternative raw materials. The harmful formaldehyde release from wood-based composites can be reduced by adding various inorganic, organic, and mineral compounds as formaldehyde scavengers to conventional adhesive systems, such as phosphates, salts, urea, nanoparticles, bark, lignin, tannins, etc., by surface treatment of finished wood-based panels, or by using eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free wood adhesive formulations.

This Special Issue, “Advanced Eco-friendly Wood-Based Composites” is focused on high-quality original research and review articles on topics including but not limited to the latest approaches in the development of novel environmentally friendly wood-based composites; sustainable, bio-based wood adhesives; approaches to reduce formaldehyde emission from wood-based composites; binderless wood-based panels; wood plastic composites (WPC); natural matrix/non-wood natural fiber composites; innovative approaches and processes for recycling wood-based composites; thermal and chemical technologies for enhanced protection of wood and wood-based composites; application of nanomaterials to wood-based composites; valorisation of bark for value-added chemicals and production of wood composites; non-wood lignocellulosic composites; advanced functionalities and application of wood-based panels.

We strongly encourage contributions from wood scientists and experts from all related fields in the form of original research works or review articles.

With kind regards,

Prof. Dr. Roman Reh
Dr. Lubos Kristak
Dr. Petar Antov
Guest Editors

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