POTENTIAL NEW WOOD SPECIES FOR THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY

The effects of climate change, which are becoming more pronounced today, mean that unconventional wood species must be used in the wood industry, of which the furniture industry is an important integral part.Less used wood species for furniture are poplar and robinia.Poplar is unsuitable as a surface component because of its low density, hardness, etc.This can be improved by compression, which would significantly increase the usability of this species, which is found in large quantities worldwide.The Brinell-Mrath surface hardness can be improved up to 22 MPa.Robinia already has interior, furniture and outdoor furniture applications, but its difficult machinability and variable colouration, especially in the case of so-called "black stripe" discolouration, are major limiting factors.The latter can be improved by various thermal treatments.For this purpose, dry thermal-treatment was considered to be a better solution than steaming in water vapour.