restoring america’s forests fpl 2013
Post on 14-Apr-2018
220 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
1/20
Forest Products Laboratory
Te long-term health o our Nations orests depends on soundconservation practices, including utilization. Founded in 1910,the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, usesscience and technology to conserve and extend our Nationsorest resources. FPL is recognized around the world as asource o unbiased inormation about wood science and use.
Restoring Americas Forests
Trough the Wise Use o Wood
January 2013
www.pl.s.ed.us
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
2/20
Fast Facts and Key Points .........................................................................................................1
Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) ........................................................................................1
Wood Use ...............................................................................................................................1
Forest Products Industry ......................................................................................................1
Forest Management ..............................................................................................................1
Mission and Science Temes ....................................................................................................2
FPL Mission ...........................................................................................................................2
Science Temes ......................................................................................................................2
RWU Contributions to Science Temes ...................................................................................3
Durability and Wood Protection Research ...........................................................................3
Engineered Composites Sciences .......................................................................................... 3
Engineering Properties o Wood, Wood-Based Materials and Structures .........................4
Economics and Statistics Research .......................................................................................4
Fiber and Chemical Sciences Research .................................................................................5
Institute or Microbial and Biochemical echnology ..........................................................5
Perormance Enhanced Biopolymers ...................................................................................6
Budget ........................................................................................................................................6
Recent Accomplishments .........................................................................................................7
Build Green: Wood Can Last or Centuries ..........................................................................7
Residuals to Aviation Fuel ..................................................................................................... 7
Going to Bat or Major League Baseball ...............................................................................7
Flexible Electronics Using Cellulose Nanober Composite Substrates ............................. 7
Protecting Wooden Bridges ..................................................................................................8
Highly Unusual Yeast Makes Biouel Production Faster and Less Expensive .................... 8
Making Recyclable, Compostable Stamps that Last Forever ...........................................8
Making the Most o Beetle-Killed rees ............................................................................... 8
Projecting the Future o the U.S. Forest Products Industry ................................................ 9
Eect o Heat reatment on Black Locust ...........................................................................9
Eective Fire Retardants or WoodPlastic Composites.....................................................9
PublicPrivate Partnership Moves Research Results to Marketplace ................................9
Te Cellulose Nano-Materials Pilot Plant ..........................................................................10
FPL Capabilities in USFS R&D Priority Areas .......................................................................11
Biomass and Bioenergy .......................................................................................................11
Nanotechnology ..................................................................................................................13
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation ......................................................................15
echnology ranser ...............................................................................................................16
Patents Program ..................................................................................................................16
echnology Marketing Unit ................................................................................................16
Leadership and Research Work Units ....................................................................................17
Contents
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
3/20
Forest Products Laboratory (FPL)
LocatedinMadison,Wisconsin,since1910
Nationsonlyfederallyfundedwoodutilizationresearch laboratory
Currentlyemploys60scientists
Primarilyorpartlyresponsibleformanyoftodayswood-basedtechnologies,includingwoodpreserva-tives, glulam beams, oriented strandboard, and ber-based packaging, recycling and building deconstruc-tion,greenbuildingtechnologies,andnewusesfororest biomass rom restoration activities
Researchpartnershipslocatedinvirtuallyeverystatein the Nation
Currentresearchinitiatives
Underutilizedwoodybiomass
Nanotechnology
Biobased energy and biorening
Advanced composites
Advancedwoodstructuresandgreenbuildingtechnologies
Researchoutcomes
Reducewildreintensityandsuppressioncoststhrough economic use o orest biomass
Create economically viable uses or beetle-killedtrees
Mitigate the eects o climate change on oreststhrough carbon sequestration
Wood Use
Moresustainabletousethanalternativeconstructionmaterials
Requiresmuchlessenergytoprocessthanothermaterials
Energyrequirementtobuildwood-framedhouses15%to20%lessthanforsteel-orconcrete-framedhouses
Produceslessairpollution,solidwastes,andgreen-house gases than steel and concrete
Forest Products Industry
Employsabout1millionworkers
Accountsforapproximately6%ofthetotalU.S.manuacturing GDP
Ranksamongthetop10manufacturingsectoremployers in 48 states
Generatesover$200billionayearinsalesandabout$54billioninannualpayroll
In2011,recovered66.8%ofpaperconsumedandistheleadinggeneratoranduserofrenewableenergy
Forest Management
Roughaverageof10ft3ofwoodperharvestedtree
9.9billiontreesperyear(1.1milliontreesperhour)harvestedworldwideequivalentto1.7treesperperson per year
1.5billiontreesperyear(170,000treesperhour)harvestedintheUnitedStatesequivalentto6.3 trees per person per year, nearly 4 times theglobal rate
Harvestedtreesreplacedbyplantingandnaturalregeneration at a rate o more than 3 to 1 in theUnited States
VolumeofgrowingtreesincreasingintheUnitedStates despite rate o harvest
U.S.consumptionofwoodproductsin2005at28%o global total
U.S.consumptionofwoodproducts(roundwoodequivalent,excludingfuelwood)increasing,from16.3 to 18.8 billion t3between1990and2006
U.S.harvest(excludingfuelwood)decreasing,fromhigh o 15.7 billion t3 in 1989 to 14.9 billion t3 in2006, as consumption rom imports increasing
Nearly215,000treesperhourareconsumedintheUnited States, and the Nation is a net importer owoodandpaperproductsthatrequireanaverageof45,000 trees per hour
Research at the Forest Products Laboratory promotes healthy orests and orest-basedeconomies by developing efcient, sustainable uses or our wood resources.
Fast Facts and Key Points
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
4/20
2
Mission and Science TemesMission and Science Temes
Science Temes
NanotechnologyUsing nanotechnology tools andnanoscale materials to enhance the utility or perormance owood-andber-basedproducts,understandwoodproper-tiesattheirmostfundamentallevelandhowtheydier,anddeveloptotallynewproductsenabletheU.S.forestproductsindustry to compete successully in the increasingly competi-tive global marketplace.
Advanced compositesDeveloping engineeredbiocomposites can simultaneously meet the Nationsdiverse needs or high-perormance building and com-modityproductswhilemaximizingthesustainabilityo orest resources.
Underutilized woody biomassDeveloping uses orsmall-diametersoftwoods,underutilizedhardwoods,andurbanwoodybiomasswillimproveforesthealth,decrease re risks, boost local economies, and providerenewableproducts.
Biorefnery/bioenergyProcessing orest eedstocks,suchaswastefromwoodprocessingplants,treetopsandlimbs,andurbanwastewood,canproducehighervalue products, such as ethanol, specialty chemicals, andpharmaceuticals.
Advanced wood structuresCreating advancedtechnologies and alternative building methods cangreatlyenhancethevalueofwoodinresidential,nonresidential, and transportation structures.
FPL Missiono identiy and conduct innovative wood and ber utilization research that contributesto conservation and productivity o the orest resource, thereby sustaining orests, theeconomy, and quality o lie.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
5/20
3
RWU Contributions to Science Temes
Durability and WoodProtection Research
Mission:Improving durability and wood protection throughimproved building design, advances in low-toxicity wood
preservatives, and improvements in re saety
Wood is anaesthetic andversatile structuralmaterial, and itrepresents one oour most valuablerenewablere-sources.However,vulnerability tomoisture, re, and
biodeteriorationare important limitations to the expected long servicelifeofwoodandcanresultinsignicanteconomicandresourceloss.Oneofthesurestwaystoextendtheavail-able timber supply and increase the resources to meetpresent and uture demands is by improving the durabil-ityofwoodinuse.
Research Focus Areas
Extendingtheservicelifeofresidentialandnon-residential buildings through proper design andoperation o the structures
Improvingtheresafetyofforestproductstoensurepersonal saety and orest health
Developingwoodtreatmentsthatimprovedurabilityofwoodproductswithoutadverselyaectingtheenvironment
Formulatingnew,sharplytargetedinhibitorstoprotectwoodproductsinserviceandpreventeconomicandresource losses that result rom biodeterioration
Engineered CompositesSciences
Mission: Understanding relationships between materials,process, and perormance to engineer biocomposites that
benet users while promoting sustainability o both virginand recycled orest resources
eengineeredwoodand other bio-basedcomposites developedthrough our researchprovide improvedvalue, service lie, andutility to consumers,whilealsopromotingsustainability and
recycling. Biocom-posite technologiescan be manuacturedintohighlyengineeredbuildingproductsusinglow-valuenatural resources, helping to oset the costs o thinningoperations needed to improve orest health. Compositesalso present an opportunity to promote jobs in ruralcommunities that depend on orest resources or theireconomic health.
Ourresearchwillfocusonenhancingtraditionalcompos-iteswhilesimultaneouslydevelopingthenextgeneration
ofbiocomposites,whichwillprovideconstructionandbuilding products that ar exceed current expectationswhileopeningnewmarketsandreducingeectsontheenvironment.
Research Focus Areas
Understandingthefundamentalrelationshipsbetweenwood,naturalber,andalternativematerialstoopti-mizecompositeprocessingandperformance
Improvingtheperformance,durability,andvalueofexisting composites and dening the next generationo hybrid composites made rom natural bers andalternative materials
Developingtoolstoaddressresourcesustainability,enhancerecyclability,andminimizetheenvironmentalimpacts o composite processing
RWU Contributions to Science Temes
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
6/20
4
Engineering Properties o Wood,Wood-Based Materials and Structures
Mission:Improving the characterization o mechanical andphysical properties o wood and wood-based products that areimportant in engineering design and ostering their efcientuse in wood building systems
Te United States is the
worldslargestproducerandconsumerofwoodproducts. Annual harvestofroundwoodisapproxi-mately 350 million tons,and more than hal thatharvest is used in someformofsolidwoodproduct(lumber,wood-basedcom-posites,androundwoodproducts, such as posts,poles, and pilings).
Because constructionaccountsformostoftheconsumptionofsolidwoodproducts, trends in demand or these products are largelydetermined by trends in construction. It is projected thatoverthenext50yearstherewillbeatwo-thirdsincreaseinthenumberofnewhouseholds;therefore,ourresearchisfocusingonincreasingtheeciencyofwood-productsuse to support both the conservation and productivity oour Nations orests.
Research Focus Areas
Conductingfundamentalresearchaimedatdevelopinginormation on the undamental anatomical, physical/mechanical,andprocessingcharacteristicsofwood
Providinginformationontheengineeringpropertiesandperformancecharacteristicsofwood-basedstructural products
Developinginformationontheperformanceanddesignofstructuralwoodsystems
Economics andStatistics Research
Mission: Providing economic inormation, analysis, andprojections and enhancing the efciency o FPLs researchthrough development, evaluation, and application o modernstatistical research
Economics and statistics
are critical componentso the success o researchat FPL. Economistsprovide inormationindicatinghowandwhymarkets and technologiesforwoodproductschangeover time, implicationsor natural resourcesmanagement, and select-ed broad environmentaland social impacts. Statis-
ticians apply modern statistical methods to enhance theintegrityandeciencyofutilizationresearch.
Tis unit supports other research projects by providingstatistical methods that help develop innovations thatexpandthecompetitiveuseofwoodtomeetneedsandconserveresources;evaluatingtheroleofmarkettrendsandinnovationsoncompetitivenessofU.S.rmswithforeignrms;andevaluatingtheimpactonforestsofpossible orest industry or orest management policiesandinitiativesthatprovidenewvalueforwoodorcon-servewood.
Research Focus Areas
ApplyingstatisticalmethodstoenhancethequalityofFPLswoodutilizationandeconomicsresearch
Improvingstatisticalmodelingofwood,ber,andcom-posite properties, processing, and perormance
Monitoringandmodelingmarketequilibria,produc-tion trends, and technology changes o the U.S. orestproducts industry
Improvingunderstandingoftheeectofproduction
trendsandtechnologychangesinsolidwood,compos-ites,andend-useindustriesonproductandwoodneeds
Providingreadilyavailable,consistentinformationontimber,woodproducts,andpaperproductsindustriesor orestry and orest industry strategic planning
Providingknowledgeoftheeconomicviabilityofnewtechnologiesforconvertingwoodandberintoneworimprovedpaperandwoodproductsorbiofuels
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
7/20
5
Fiber and ChemicalSciences Research
Mission:Formulating efcient processes or convertingwood to chemicals and bers, developing economically viableuses or underutilized wood resources, and improving meth-ods or recovering and reusing orest products such as wastepaper and construction debris
Te need to reduce rerisk has led to a sig-nicant change in theutilizationneedsoftheForestService;avail-able material has shitedrom traditional timbertosmalltrees,woodyshrubs, and orest foordebris. Fortunately,there are national eortsto use such materials
as uels, chemicals, andnanoscale materials. Ourresearch is helping todevelopcommercialusesforthisnewwoodsupplyandForest Service need. Te unit also continues research onimproving pulping technologies, paper perormance, andthe perormance o recycled paper.
Research Focus Areas
Advancingforestbioreneryforproductionoftransportation uels, such as ethanol, and valuable
chemicalsConductingresearchonnano-materialsderived
fromwood
Continuingadvancesintraditionalwoodpulpapplications
Improvingpaperandpaperboardrecycling
Understandingthefundamentalsofpaperstructureand applications or pulp-ber-based products
Institute or Microbial andBiochemical echnology
Mission: Developing biotechnology and nanotechnology orwood and ber conversion through research that contributesto efcient wood utilization and improved orest health
Research conducted inthe Institute or Micro-
bial and Biochemicalechnology (IMB) atFPL extends basic dis-coveries in microbiology,genetics, biochemistry,biophysics, nanotechnol-ogy, and bioprocessinginto technologies thatimprovewoodutilizationand orest managementpractices.
Ourresearchimprovesknowledgeofthechemicalprop-ertiesofwood,particularlyastheyrelatetomechanismsand processes or bioconversion and decay prevention.isenhancedknowledgewillincreaseproductyieldfromtraditionalwoodsuppliesandwillleadtonewandimprovedtechnologiestoconvertlow-value,underuti-lizedforestresourcesintorenewablefuels,chemicals,pulp, paper, and paperboard.
Research Focus Areas
Developingtechnologiesfortheecientandeconomi-calbioconversionofunderutilizedwoodybiomass,such
as orest thinnings, unmerchantable timber, and mixedspecies,intoaarrayofwood-basedmaterials,fromber to chemicals
Identifyingandunderstandingthemechanismsofwooddecayfungitoincreasetheirecacyinbiocon-versiontechnologies,devisenewenvironmentallysoundwoodpreservatives,andacceleratedecomposi-tion o orest litter
Developingbasicinformationandoperationconditionsforecientandeectiveenzymaticandmicrobialpro-cessingofwoodandwoodber
Increasingunderstandingofthefunctionalgenomicsolignocellulose-degradingfungitooptimizetheiruseinbioprocessingandbioconversionofwood
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
8/20
6
Perormance EnhancedBiopolymers
Mission: Understanding the basic properties o wood andother materials used in conjunction with wood to improvetheir properties, enhance their service lie, and developnew uses
Research in
perormance-enhanced bio-polymers ocuseson three problemareas: advancedstructures, ad-vanced compos-ites, and nano-materials. Tereis considerable interdependence among these three areas(i.e.,improvementsinstructureswilldependonadvancesin composite materials), and improving the perormance
ofwoodandwood-basedstructureswillrequirebasicand applied research in each o these three areas. Ourresearchwillhelpensurethatnewlydevelopedmaterialsand structure components are robust, durable, cost eec-tive,compatiblewithothermaterials,andeasilydisposedo or recycled at the end o their useul service lives.
Research Focus Areas
Understandingwhywood-basedmaterialsfailunderend-useconditions,developingnewandimprovedmethods or predicting service lie, and incorporatingnewdesigns,materials,andmethodstomakestruc-tures last longer
Understandingwoodsurfacechemistry,howmaterialsbondtowood,andtheprocessingofcomponentsdur-
ingmanufacturetoimprovewood-basedcomposites
Understandingwoodpropertiesatthemolecular,nano,andcellwalldimensionstosolveperformanceproblems
Budget
Allocations FY11 FY12 FY13*
Research Base $18,643,000 $18,451,000 $18,266,000
National Fire Plan $703,000 $597,000 $591,000
*Presidents Budget
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
9/20
7
Recent Accomplishments
Build Green: Wood Can Last or CenturiesSinceweareonthecuspofagreenrevolution,thereisnobettertimethannowtopromotewoodincon-struction as a means to mitigate climate change and tohighlighttheenvironmentalbenetsofchoosingwood
or residential and non-residential construction. FPLresearchers published a report to dispel the myth thatwoodconstructionwillnotlastaslongorbeasgreenas steel or concrete. Tey aim to educate the public onhomemaintenanceandempowerthemwithproperinormation to make an inormed choice or their nextconstruction project. With user-riendly inormation,home-ownerscanaddressmanyhomemaintenanceis-sues prior to costly repairs. Tis report illustrates manycommon moisture-related problems that can lead todecayifignoredandpointsoutthatwithproperatten-
tiontodetail,woodthatisprotectedfrommoisturecanlast indenitely.
Converting Northwestern Forest
Going to Bat or Major League BaseballBreakage o bats during play has become a saety concernor Major League Baseball (MLB), and FPL research-ers,alongwithuniversityandprivatesectorpartners,are on board to help improve the situation. Researchershave been givingtechnical adviceto MLB ocialson the mechani-cal properties ovarious species owoodcommonlyused to makebaseballbats,andacontractbetweenFPLandMLBwassigned to continue the partnership. Te committee com-piled relevant inormation or each broken bat, including
manufacturer,model,dimensions,gamesituationwhenitbroke,areainwhichthebatfragmentslanded,andvideofootageofeachincident.FPLbeganworkingwithaprivate certication and testing agency to help assess andcategorizethebatfailures,asarststeptowardreducingfuturecatastrophicincidents.Recommendationswerethen made on steps that could be taken to reduce thenumber o bats broken during play, and implementingthoserecommendationsresultedina50%reductioninthe number o catastrophic bat ailures.
Flexible Electronics Using Cellulose
Nanober Composite SubstratesFlexible electronics have manypotential applications includingmalleable displays, solar cells,smart cards, radio requencytags, medical implants, andwearablecomputers.Transpar-ent lms made rom cellulosenanobers,arenewablenano-material, have the potential to serve as a oundationor fexible electronics. Researchers rom FPL and the
University o WisconsinMadison have demonstratedthe rst example o using cellulose nanober compositesubstrates or fexible electronics. Although some chal-lengesremain,thecellulosenanobercompositeshowedgood chemical and thermal resistance necessary or elec-tronic abrication and the use o cellulose nanobers as asustainable component or high-speed fexible electronicsis extremely promising.
Residuals to Aviation FuelIn September 2011, the U.S. Department o AgricultureannouncedthatWashingtonStateUniversitywastoreceiveave-year,$40milliongranttohelpdevelopalternatives to petroleum-based uels and chemicals.CalledtheNorthwestAdvancedRenewablesAlliance(NARAforshort),FPLreceiveda$1.1millionsub-contracttopretreatwoodybiomassforconversiontoaviation uel. FPLs participation is to demonstrate theSPORL (Sulte Pretreatment to Overcome Recalcitranceo Lignocellulose) process or ecient sugar produc-
tion rom Douglas-r orest residue. In the rst yearo the project, FPL scientists developed a ractionationtechnique to reduce the bark content o orest residues.Te goal is to leave the bark in the orest or soil con-ditioning and nutrients. Improved bark removal alsoreduces the deadload in transportation and bioren-ery processing. Preliminary laboratory evaluation hasconrmed the high perormance o the SPORL processor pretreatment o the Douglas-r, providing ecientenzymeconversiontosugarsandhighbiofuelyield.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
10/20
8
Making Recyclable, Compostable Stampsthat Last ForeverTe US Postal Service has sponsored cooperative researchprojects at FPL or more than 20 years. Initial researchdeveloped stamp adhesives that do not cause problemsduringpaperrecycling.Researchersarenowdevelop-ing improved perormance and accelerated aging teststoassurethatForeverStampsareindeedusefulifnot
foreveratleastclose enough toqualiy or thename. Also, in aneort to reducethe environmentalimpact o stampmaterials, research-ers are developingnewadhesivesthatare produced romrenewablematerialsanddegradeinlandlls.Beyond
developing adhesives that may be used on uture stampsand other commercial products, researchers are develop-ing experimental methods or determining the biodegra-dationrateofnewmaterials.
Making the Most o Beetle-Killed reesFPL researchers and their partners have developed auser-friendlyguidethatfocusesonhowbesttousewoodobtained rom treesthatwereinfectedbyinvasive species. Wood
Utilization Options orUrban rees Inectedby Invasive Species is acomprehensive manu-al that can be used byprofessionalswhenassessing use optionsor this material. Tepublication includes asummary o the tech-nical viability o usingthese materials or
value-added productsinavarietyofapplications,andwillbeusefultourbanoresters, municipalities, and local industries looking orwaystousebeetle-killedtrees.epublicationplacesamajor emphasis on trees killed by the emerald ash borer.
Protecting Wooden Bridges
Woodenbridges,whetherhistoriccoveredbridgesorcurrenthighwaytimberbridges,canbevulnerabletodamage rom biodegradation or re. Only about 800 omore than 10,000 covered bridges built in the UnitedStates are still standing, and many o those are sueringrom biodeterioration. Te remaining covered bridges arealso vulnerable to damage by intentional or accidentalres.Moderntimberbridges,whichrepresentanimpor-tant component o the transportation resource, can also
be vulnerable to re and decay. With unding provided bytheFederalHighwayAdministration,ForestServiceanduniversity researchers collaborated to evaluate methodsofprotectingwoodenbridgesfromreandbiodegrada-tion. Tis research and the resulting recommendationswereconsolidatedintoaguidethatprovidesdetailedinormation on actors that contribute to vulnerability,bestpracticesforminimizingvulnerability,selectingandapplying supplemental preservative treatments, use ore retardants, and re protection technology. Tis isthe rst document o its kind to provide such detailedinformationandinstructions.Itwillbeusedbyhistoric
preservationists and transportation maintenance per-sonnel in their eorts to extend the lie o both historicandmodernwoodenbridges.
Highly Unusual Yeast Makes BiouelProduction Faster and Less Expensive
A yeast isolated romthegutofwood-boringpassalid beetles can er-ment xylose to ethanolthree times aster than
it erments glucose,whereasnormalyeastsdo not erment xyloseatalloratamuchslow-er rate than glucose. It can also erment dierent sugarssimultaneouslywhenpresentedwithamixture,andcanerment xylose to ethanol under anaerobic conditionson minimal medium. All these eatures are conducive toaster, cheaper biouels production, and the ndings arebeing developed or possible commercial use.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
11/20
9
Projecting the Future o the U.S. ForestProducts IndustryFPL researchers developed a detailed model that providesprojections o uture timber demands and timber pricesunder alternative scenarios regarding global economicgrowthandwoodenergy consump-tion. Te model
provides insightsonhowU.S.com-petition and tradein orest productscould be impactedby expanded globaluseofwoodforenergy in uturedecades.emodelprovidesarangeofnewandex-panded capabilities, including modeling regional U.S.orest product production and trade, stumpage marketsforhardwoodandsoftwoodtimber,regionaltimber
harvestandwoodresiduedispositioncalibratedtoFor-estServicetimberdata,andtherelationshipbetweenhousingconstructionandwoodproductdemands.Usingglobaleconomicscenarios,theFPLmodelshowedthatscenarioswithlargeexpansioninglobaluseofwoodforenergywouldlikelyresultinlargeincreasesinrealtim-ber stumpage prices in U.S. regions, but U.S. producerso orest products could nevertheless gain competitiveadvantagesifglobalroundwoodpricesincreasemoreinoreign countries than in the United States as a result oexpandedglobalwoodenergyconsumption.
Efect o Heat reatment on Black LocustBlacklocustisafastgrowingwoodspecieswithsuperiormechanical properties. It is oten used in making urni-ture but discoloration during drying oten limits its ap-plication.Heattreatmentvariableshavebeenshowntoaectcolorchangesinwood.Colorchangeislargelyduetochemicalstructureswithinthewood.Abetterunder-standing o heat treatment variables during the dryingofwoodallowsforenhancementofcolorinblacklocustwood.Heattreatmentcreatesthepotentialforblacklo-custwoodtoresembleexotichardwoodsthusincreasing
theuseofthisfastgrowingwoodspeciesandpotentiallydecreasing demand or exotic oreign species.
Efective Fire Retardants orWoodPlastic Composites (WPC)Wood composites madewithhighlyammableplastics are increasinglybeingusedinawiderangeo applications. Such ap-plications include decking
boards and other exteriorproducts around homes inthewildlandurbaninterface.Testshaveshownthatreretardant treatments can reduce the potential contribu-tionoftheWPCtoare.StudieshavealsoshownthatincreasingthewoodbercontentintheWPCsignicant-ly improved the re perormance over that o the plasticalone.
PublicPrivate Partnership MovesResearch Results to Marketplace
ResearchersatFPLhavedevelopedtechnologywherebycellulose bers can be ormed into structural and three-dimensional engineered berboard panels. Noble Envi-ronmental echnologies Inc. (NE), San Diego, Cali.,has signed anexclusive licenseagreementwiththe USDA to use
jointly patent-pending technol-ogy and structuresor oce urniture
and packaging ap-plications. Tesenaturally bondedboardscanusebersproducedfromavarietyofrenew-able sources including orest thinnings and recycledpaper bers. A number o global industries and mar-ketswillhaveaccesstoproductsandprocessesthataredesign-versatile,non-toxic,100%recycledcontent,100%bio-based. Such license agreements exempliy the valueo public-private partnerships in moving basic researchto valuable market-driven applications. Te collabora-tionbetweenFPLandNETisanexcellentexampleof
government and industry collaboration aiming to meetmarket demands. By combining the unique capabilitieso NE and FPL, research results have transerred intotangible products bringing improved, sustainable optionsto consumers.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
12/20
10
Te Cellulose Nano-Materials Pilot PlantFPLopenedanewForestService-funded$1.7millionnanocellulosepilotplantin2012.epilotplantisnowproducing about 30 kg o cellulose nano-crystals (CNC),or5kgofcellulosenano-brils(CNF)perweek.esematerials are being supplied to three government agen-cies and six partner universities to accelerate the devel-opment o advanced cellulose-reinorced composites, and
printed, fexible electronic circuits and products.
Cellulose nano-crystals are rod-like particles o purecellulose, about 5 nm in diameter and 150200 nm long.Withthestrengthofsteelat1/6ththeweight,theyhaveapplications in high-perormance composites, replacingKevlar and carbon bers in these materials. Cellulosenano-brils are string-like particles, 20 nm in diameterand up to 2 microns long. Tey orm high-strength clearlms that can be used in high-perormance epoxy layupprocesses,barriercoatings,orbecauseoftheverylowco-ecientofthermalexpansionthebackingforprinted
circuits.enewpilotplantenablesForestServiceR&Dto continue to supply these materials to our partners,andmakethematerialsavailabletodozensofnewpart-ner companies. Product applications as diverse as fexiblesolar panels, printed electronic circuits, auto body parts,militarydrones,lightweightarmorandballisticglassareall under investigation by our partners.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
13/20
11
FPL Capabilities in USFS R&D Priority Areas
Biomass and Bioenergy
Vision
Americas orest resources signicantly contribute toenergysecurityandindependencewhilereducinggreen-house gases.
Trough sustainable orest management and cost-eective harvesting and collection, Americas orests area strategic asset in meeting U.S. energy security, environ-mental quality, and economic development needs and e-fectivelycontributetodisplacing30%ofU.S.petroleumconsumption by 2030.
Sustainable orest management on public and privatelandsgeneratesexcesswoodymaterialthatcanbeused
tohelpmeettheNationsrenewableenergyneeds.Biomass management also supports eorts to provideeconomic opportunities, improve ecosystem health,decreasecatastrophicwildres,enhancewildlifehabi-tat,andprotectwatersheds.Sustainablewoodybiomassmanagement also mitigates, in part, the impacts o cli-mate change and provides an alternative uel and chemi-cal source.
Incoordinationwithotherfederalandstateagencies,academia, businesses, environmental interests, and non-governmentalorganizations,wewillcontinuetoimproveand deploy technologies and underlying science or bio-
fuelsproductionwhileapplyingandsupportingsustain-able orest management practices on the Nations orests.
Capabilities
FollowingaresomeattributesofForestServiceResearchand Development:
Anintegratedplatformofinnovativeeldandlabora-tory research that provides a unique opportunityor advancing biouels eedstock production andconversion technology
Acadreofwoodscientists,biologists,chemists,andengineerswhohavealreadydevelopedpartnerships
withuniversitiesandindustrialpartnersincooperativebiouels R&D ventures
Extensiveexperiencewithbusinesscaseanalysisforbiorenerieswithexpandingworkrelevanttotodaysquestions about net energy and net greenhouse gasemissionsforwood-basedbiofuelsandchemicals
Atrackrecordofprovidingleading-edgescienceandtechnologythathasformedthebasisfornewproductsandimprovedeciencyfromwoodymaterialsinamannerthatisconsistentwithsustainableforestmanagement
Afullspectrumofdataandmodelstohelpreducenancial risk
Deliverables
Followingaresomeadvancesinforestbiomasstoen-ergyscienceandtechnologythatwewillaccomplishanddeploywithanexpandedemphasisinbiofuelsintheResearch and Development mission area:
Sustainable orest bioenergy production systemsand new wood energy crops
Bestmanagementpracticesforforestrywithex-pandedbiomassremoval,whileprovidingimportantwildlifehabitat,waterquality,fuelsreduction,andnutrient management.
Newvarietiesofperennialwoodycropsthatareresistanttodisease,fastgrowing,nutrientandwaterecient,andoptimizedforbioenergy
Strategiestointegratewoodyplantswithagriculturalproduction o biouels, so that environmental peror-mance and synergistic outcomes areimproved
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
14/20
12
Experimentaldeploymentandevaluationofwoodybioenergyfeedstockthatwillprovideimprovedun-derstanding o plantation silvicultural practices, soilnutrient management, and economics
Competitivebiofuelsconversiontechnologiesthatreduce ossil uel use greenhouse gas emissions
Newchemicalandbiochemicaltechnologiesforextracting, modiying, and ermenting carbohydrates
andligninfromwoodybiomassfeedstocks
Newcost-eectivethermoconversion(pyrolysisandgasication)
Demonstration and evaluation o various orest eed-stockusedwithemergingtechnologysuchassmall-scale gasication, pilot biochemical conversion, andthermochemical conversion technologies
Feedstock selection, sorting, and preprocessingtechnologyoptimizedtomeetqualitystandardsforvarious biouels and biochemical conversion technol-ogy platorms
Improved microbes or extracting and convertingwoodybiomasstofermentablematerials
Ecientandenvironmentallyfriendlywoodybiomass harvesting systems
Improved harvesting and transportation systems ororest biomass, cost and equipment inormation, andoptions or eld processing to improve eciency andmitigate impacts
Life-cycleandsustainabilityanalysisforwoodbioenergy systems
Benefts
An expanded science program in orest-based biouelswillprovidebenetstoawiderangeofconstituents:
Increasingnationalenergysecurityandindependenceas a result o a technically, nancially, and ecologicallysound biouels systems replacing some ossil uelusage
Improvingforesthealthandreductionofreriskasexcess orest biomass is used or biouels production.
Reducinggreenhousegasemissionsandincreasednancial benets to non-industrial private orest land-ownersastheyreceivecreditforcarbonsequestration,emission osets, and biouels production
Economicdevelopmentof$120billionfromaneworest biomass to biouels industry
Reducingoreliminatingtheneedforfederalbiomasstobioenergy subsidies
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
15/20
13
Nanotechnology
Wood-basednanotechnologyoersarevolutionarywaytorestorethehealthofourNationsforests,whilecreat-ingnewjobsandstrengtheningAmericasforest-basedeconomy through industrial development and expansion.
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control omatteratdimensionsbetweenapproximately1and100nanometers,whereuniquematerialpropertiesenablenovel, high perormance applications. (For rame oreerence, a sheet o paper is about 100,000 nanometersthick.) Wood, or cellulose, at the nano-scale is a high-value material that enables products to be lighter andstronger, have less embodied energy, and come rom arenewableresource.
Nanotechnologywillallowforthecreationofnewmultifunctionalmaterialsanddeviceswithavastrangeo applications in many realms, including medicine,electronics, transportation, biomaterials, and energyproduction and use. It holds the potential or a dramatic
impactonthenationaleconomyestimatedtobeasmuchas$250billionworldwideby2020.
Asforforesthealth,todaywegrowabouttwiceasmanytreesasweuse.Ourforestsarebecomingovercrowdedwithhazardousfuelsthatcausecatastrophicres.edevastating impacts o these res are seen time andagain,withliveslost,homesdestroyed,andmillionsofacres blackened. Te cost o ghting these catastrophicwildresisenormous,sometimesasmuchas$1millionper hour.
Wood-based nanotechnology oers a solution to thiswide-spreadloss.Currently,thereareatleast300millionacres o orests in America needing some type o restor-ativeaction.Wood-basednanotechnologywillcreateacost-eectivewaytoenableenoughhazardousfuelstoberemovedsowildrescanremainsmallerandbecomea tool or improved orest health. It is estimated that astrong,establishedprograminwood-basednanotechnol-ogythatcreateshigh-valuemarketsfromlow-valuewood(hazardousfuels)couldhelprestore20millionforestedacres annually and reduce uture re suppression costsbyatleast15to20percentupto$300to$400million
annually.Potential Markets or Cellulosic Nanomaterials
Cellulosic nanomaterials are expected to nd applica-tionswithinmanyindustrialsectors,manyofwhicharenotcurrentlyemployingwood-basedmaterials.Beingalight-weight,high-performance,renewableandrecyclablematerialmakesnanocelluloseverycompatiblewiththegrowingtrendofgreeningproductsandmarketsinorderto meet the pressing need to supply sustainable materialsor the 21st Century.
Applications include:
Structuralcompositepanelsor construction
Flexibleelectronicdisplays
PrintedelectronicsAbrasionresistant/self-
repairing architectural nishes
Lightweightarmor
Ballisticglass
Medicaldevices
Aerospaceandautomotivepanelsandparts
Industrialtools
Consumerproducts
Superinsulatingandsoundproongmaterialsforbuildings, appliances, devices, construction, andindustrial processing
Sensorsforfoodpackaging
Sensorsforstructuralloadapplications
Actuatorsandswitches
Batteriesandenergystoragedevices
Photoactivestructuresforconstructionmaterialsandconsumer products
Smartlabelsandpackaging
Packagingbarriercoatings
Printingpapercoatings
Potentialcomponentbuildingblockinadditivemanuacture (3-D printing)
Within these industrial sectors several companieshave begun to explore uses o nanocellulose, including:Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo, IBM, Hyundai-Kia MotorCompany, Georgia Pacic, Ecolab, 3M, Ford Motor Com-pany,GeneralMotors,DuPont,HewlettPackard,Procter& Gamble and Kimberly Clark.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
16/20
14
Collaboration
Recognizingtheimportanceofnanotechnologyandwood-derivedcellulosicnanomaterials,theU.S.forestproducts industry and the USDA Forest Service haveestablished a common vision and agenda or the com-mercializationofcellulosicnanomaterials.Publicprivatepartnerships that combine the unique abilities o in-dustry, government, and academic entities provide the
bestwaytosuccessfullycommercializeinnovativenewtechnologyplatforms,developnewproducts,andcre-atenewjobs.Successfulpartneringwillhelptoreinventthe U.S. orest products industry, improve orest health,make sustainable and ecient use o Americas abundantforestresources,revitalizeruraleconomies,andpositiontheUnitedStatesasaworldleaderinthecommercializa-tion o cellulosic nanomaterials.
eUnitedStatesandothernationswillseenumerousbenetsfromthecommercializationofwood-derivedcellulosic nanomaterials. Development and com-mercializationofnewlightweight,high-performancewood-derivedproductscanhelpreducefossilfuelcon-sumptionandgreenhousegasemissionswhileimprovingorest health and increasing the potential or rural manu-acturing opportunities, including the creation o manynewhigh-payingjobs.
FPLsnewfacilityaidsinthecommercializationofthesematerials by providing researchers and early adopters othetechnologywithworkingquantitiesofforest-basednanomaterials.
Te Cellulose Nano-Materials Pilot PlantTe Forest Products Laboratory recently opened a$1.7 million production acility or renewable, orest-based nanomaterials. Tis acility is the rst o itskind in the United States and one that positions the
laboratory as the countrys leading producer o thesematerials, also called nanocellulose.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
17/20
15
Climate Change Adaptationand Mitigation
Climatechangereferstochangesinlong-termweatherpatterns and in the environment caused by increasinglevels o carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasesreleased into the atmosphere. Tese gases come romnatural events such as orest res and rom burningwood,peat,andfossilfuelsforvarioususes.
Forest Service researchers have studied the eects oclimate change and air pollutants on orests and grass-lands or over 30 years. Tis research already identiestrends and subsequent eects to ecosystems acrossthe United States. Te U.S. Forest Service is developinganationalframeworkforguidinganddirectinglandmanagement activities in light o expected changes.FPL research is contributing signicantly to this eort.
For instance, FPL has been researching undamentalgeneticsandphysiologyofwhite-rotfungifordecades.White-rotfungiaretheonlymicrobesknowntoe-
cientlybreakdownlignin,acomplexchemicalcompoundmostcommonlyderivedfromwoodandoneofthemostabundantmaterialsonEarth.Collectively,thewood-andlitter-degradingbrown-andwhite-rotfungiplayapivotalrole in the carbon cycle and signicantly infuence oresthealth.
ResearchersatFPLarecombiningwoodberwithther-moplastic resin to create various composites. CompositeresearchhasalonghistoryatFPL,andwoodcompositetechnologies have been used or decades to createbuilding and home urnishing products. Composites can
use undervalued materials and improve the economicso costly orest restoration because they can be maderom ber, particles, or fakes rom small trees, especiallythosefrominvasivespeciesandovergrownforestsatriskofwildre.Byusinglow-valueandproblematictimber(whichstoregreatamountsofcarbon)andclearingthismaterialfromourforests,newvigoroustimberwillgrow(sequestering additional carbon). Tis in turn mitigatesthe uncontrollable release o carbon into the environ-ment by orest res.
Because transportation accounts or about a third o
total U.S. emissions o carbon dioxide (an abundantgreenhouse gas), cleaner transportation uels can play animportant role in addressing climate change. FPL econo-mists are evaluating business cases or making biouelsusing selected biochemical and thermochemical tech-nologies. rees are one o the best potential sources obiological uel. Although a more challenging process thancreating biouel rom agricultural matter, convertingwoodresourcesintoliquidfuelsandchemicalfeedstockis becoming more cost competitive, and FPL is a leader
in innovative research on orest biomass to energyproduction.
Contributing to the U.S. report under the UN Frame-workConventiononClimateChange,FPLresearchershave collaboratively estimated carbon emission osetscausedbyadditionstocarbonstoredinwoodandpaperproducts.eEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywillusethese data in their annual greenhouse gas emissions and
sinks report.eConsortiumforResearchonRenewableIndustrialMaterials (CORRIM) is a not-or-prot consortium o15researchinstitutionsworkingwiththeeectsofproducingandusingrenewablematerials.FPLhascollab-oratedwithCORRIMtoconductlifecycleassessmentsofcarbon osets caused by orest treatments, re emis-sionreduction,woodproductstorage,andwoodenergyoset o ossil uels emissions. We have also collaboratedwithCORRIMtoincreasewooduseinstructures,whichwillosetcarbonemissionsofmaterialsthatemitmorecarbon in production and use.
FPLscientistshavecooperatedwiththeNationalCouncilor Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to estimatethe carbon emissions/carbon emissions oset ootprinto the U.S. orest products industry.
Using Unied Standard Format Markers (USFM) and theGlobal Forest Products Model (GFPM), FPL scientistshavebeenevaluatingtheeectofincreaseduseofwoodybiomass or energy on orest products markets. Ourscientists have been using these models to contribute tothe 2010 Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment. Inaddition to extending the treatment o climate eects,resourceanalyseswillcontinuetobelinkedbycommonassumptionsaboutpopulationgrowth,economicgrowth,andlandusechange.
FPLresearcherswereinstrumentalinestimatingcounty-level orest biomass supplies (including costs) or a revi-sion o the joint study conducted by the Departmentso Energy and Agriculture, the USDA/DOE Billion onBiomass Supply Study.
eForestServiceBiomassUtilizationGrantsprogramisintended to help improve orest restoration activities byusing and creating markets or small-diameter materialandlow-valuedtreesremovedfromforestrestorationactivities,suchasreducinghazardousfuels,handlinginsect and diseased conditions, or treating orestlandsimpactedbycatastrophicweatherevents.esefundsare targeted to help communities, entrepreneurs, andothers turn residues rom orest restoration activitiesinto marketable orest products and energy products.FPL researchers are continually evaluating the economiceectiveness o projects unded under the grantsprogram.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
18/20
16
echnology ranser
Patents Program
ApartnershipwithFPLhelpsadvanceresearchbytap-ping into the expertise o our research personnel, pro-viding access to our extensive laboratory acilities and
equipment, and creating opportunities or patent andlicensing agreements.
Our researchers have a history o successul partner-ships,andtheywelcometheopportunitytocollaboratewithindustry,academia,tradeassociations,tribes,non-governmentorganizations,andfederal,state,andlocalgovernment agencies to convert research into usableinormation and technology.
Technologytransferagreementsweredevelopedtoimprovecooperationwithcommercialrmstoconvertresearch to usable inormation and technology. Tis
cooperation increases the benets to the public and com-mercial rms.
Varioustypesofagreements,suchasCooperativeRe-search and Development Agreements, Memorandums oUnderstanding,andResearchJointVentureAgreements,allowthegovernmentandindustrytoworktogetherindevelopingnewtechnologies.
Agreements vary based on the level o contribution romeach party and the expected benets, but the ultimatepurpose o all technology transer agreements is to bet-tercoordinateresearchactivitiesbetweenthepartiessothe results are eciently transerred to the public.
ApatentisaninstrumentbywhichtheUnitedStatesgrants an inventor the right to exclude others rom mak-ing, using, or selling an invention or a term o years. oqualifyforapatent,theinventionmustbenew,usefuland a non-obvious process or product.
PatentingenablesFPLtograntpatentlicenses,whichprovide an important avenue or technology transer. Teexclusive nature o patent licenses promotes the transero technologies to the private sector or commercial mar-kets,efollowingpatentsareavailableforlicensingatFPL:boltedwoodconnections,concentricngerjointedtimber,break-inresistantwoodpaneldoor,hardenedandreretardantwoodproducts,methodandapparatusor molding three-dimensional objects, and method orber loading a chemical compound.
echnology Marketing Unit
Similar to the extension services provided by manyuniversities, FPLs echnology Marketing Unit (MU)providesabroadscopeofexpertiseinwoodproducts
utilizationandmarketing,technologytransfer,andtechnical assistance. Te MU is part o the U.S. ForestServices State and Private Forestry, Cooperative ForestryBranch.
MUs mission is to promote the ecient, sustainableuseofwoodbytransferringtechnologiesdevelopedbyFPL, other Forest Service research stations, universi-ties,andotherfederallaboratories.eTMUworksincollaborationwithmanydierentpartners,particularlythe Forest Services Research and Development sta, toidentifyopportunitiesforworkingwithlocalgovern-
ments,privatelandowners,ruralcommunities,andorest industries. Tey support the National and inter-national mission o the Forest Service in orest productsutilizationbyensuringreadyadoptionofforest-basedmaterial technologies to many small, rural orest productbusinesses.
ebreadthofTMUsworkincludesforestproductscon-servation, processing, manuacturing eciency, market-ing, recycling, and bioenergy. Te technical assistancethey provide includes publications, technical assistancevisits,conferences,workshops,meetings,andjustsimplymeetingwithcustomersfacetofaceorviaphone.
TMUalsomanagesandawardsover$5millioneachyearingrantsdedicatedtohelpingimprovetheutilizationofwoodybiomassremovedfromforestrestorationprojectseWoodyBiomassUtilizationGrantProgramisintend-ed to help improve orest restoration activities by usingand creating markets or small-diameter material andlow-valuedtreesremovedfromforestrestorationactivi-ties,suchasreducinghazardousfuels,handlinginsectand diseased conditions, or treating orestlands impactedbycatastrophicweatherevents.esefundsaretargetedto help communities, entrepreneurs, and others turn
residues rom orest restoration activities into market-able orest products and/or energy products.
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
19/20
Leadership and Research Work Units
RWU 4714
EngineeringProperties o
Wood, Wood BasedMaterials
& Structures
Supervisory ResearchGeneral Engineer
Robert J. Ross
RWU 4851
Economics &Statistics Research
SupervisoryResearchForester
Kenneth E.Skog
RWU 4723
Durability & WoodProtectionResearch
SupervisoryResearch
Microbiologist
Carol A.Clausen
Wood Products Research
Assistant Director
Michael A. Ritter
AnalyticalChemistry &MicroscopyLaboratory
SupervisoryChemist
Vacant
FinancialResources
Management
AdministrativeOcer
Vacant
Administration
Assistant Director
Lon Yeary
RWU 4712
Institute orMicrobial &BiochemicalTechnology
SupervisoryResearch Plant
Pathologist
Barbara L. Illman
RWU 4706
EngineeredComposites
Sciences
SupervisoryResearchMaterials
Engineer
Zhiyong Cai
RWU 4709
Fiber &ChemicalSciencesResearch
SupervisoryResearchChemist
Alan W. Rudie
PaperTest
Laboratory
SupervisoryGeneral
Engineer
Nancy RossSutherland
EngineeringMechanics &
Remote SensingLaboratory
SupervisoryGeneral
Engineer
Steve Kalinosky
RWU 4707
PerormanceEnhanced
Biopolymers
SupervisoryResearchMaterialsEngineer
Gregory Schueneman
Research FacilitiesEngineering
SupervisoryGeneral
Engineer
Michael J.Kaspszak
National ForestService Library
SupervisoryLibrarian
JulieBlankenburg
Wood, Fiber, and Composites Research
Assistant Director
Teodore H. Wegner
Ofce o Communications
Director
Doug Clawson
Forest Products LaboratoryActing Director
Michael . RainsU.S. FOREST SERVICE
Forest Products LaboratoryOrganization Chart State & Private Forestry
Technology Marketing Unit (TMU)
Program Manager
Vacant
17
-
7/29/2019 Restoring Americas Forests FPL 2013
20/20
Te USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and
activities on the basis o race, color, national origin, age, disability,
andwhereapplicable,sex,maritalstatus,familialstatus,parentalstatus, religion, sexual orientation, genetic inormation, political
belies, reprisal, or because all or a part o an individuals income
is derived rom any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited
basesapplytoallprograms.)Personswithdisabilitieswhorequire
alternative means or communication o program inormation
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs
ARGE Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and DD). o le a
complaintofdiscrimination,writetoUSDA,Director,Oceof
Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382
(DD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
For more inormation, contact
Forest Products Laboratory
One Giord Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726-2398
608-231-9200
mailroom_orest_products_laboratory@s.ed.us
www.pl.s.ed.us
top related