Assessing the technical and environmental performance of wood-based fiber laminates with lignin based phenolic resin systems

Sustainability issues of by-product and waste management systems, to produce building material commodities: A comprehensive review of findings from a virtual special issue

“…Another waste stream is represented by the sulphur-free and low molecular lignin polymers being yielded from the organosolv process 2 . According to Hildebrandt et al (2019), the obtained lignin is a very valuable component for replacing phenolic compounds within phenolic resin systems. However, its feasibility and sustainability of application for manufacturing of products and components for buildings is still under evaluation.…”

“…However, its feasibility and sustainability of application for manufacturing of products and components for buildings is still under evaluation. This is mainly because there is a wide range of degrees for substitution of fossil-based resins and mineral fibres (from low substitution to high substitution) and their impact on mechanical properties and environmental performance (Hildebrandt et al, 2019). Hildebrandt et al (2019) contributed this research field, by technoenvironmentally assessing laminates made out of beech wood fibres and a thermoset binder system based on lignin-based phenolic resin.…”

“…This is mainly because there is a wide range of degrees for substitution of fossil-based resins and mineral fibres (from low substitution to high substitution) and their impact on mechanical properties and environmental performance (Hildebrandt et al, 2019). Hildebrandt et al (2019) contributed this research field, by technoenvironmentally assessing laminates made out of beech wood fibres and a thermoset binder system based on lignin-based phenolic resin. Interestingly, the authors evaluated different production scenarios that were developed by operating changes in the shares of the resin matrix (RM) and the lignin content within the RM.…”

“…Interestingly, the authors evaluated different production scenarios that were developed by operating changes in the shares of the resin matrix (RM) and the lignin content within the RM. Additionally, the share of fresh wood was varied against an alternative share of saw-mill by-products from fresh wood assortments, with 20% and 100% substitutions (Hildebrandt et al, 2019). This study was based upon LCA application to evaluate the environmental impacts and potential benefits that can be obtained by varying shares of resins, of fibre content and of lignin, within the resin matrix.…”

“…Finally, based upon findings from the study it can be concluded that the beech fibre laminates with 20% resin matrix, 20% of lignin content, and 80% fibre content by weight in the final board exhibits the most optimal mechanic properties and shows the lowest negative environmental impacts, compared to the other scenarios considered. Sustainability of those laminates were documented by Hildebrandt et al (2019) to be improvable if that 80% fibre content is contributed partially (20%) or -even better -totally (100%) by sawmill by-products.…”